Man jailed for heart attack delay

Police described Boyd's actions as "sickening and pathetic"

A man has been jailed for blocking the path of an ambulance carrying a dying heart attack victim to hospital.

Michael Boyd, 22, stood in front of the vehicle and drunkenly abused paramedics in Ashton-in-Makerfield on 19 July.

The crew were treating Norman Bell, 84, of Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, after he collapsed at a bowling club. He later died in hospital.

Boyd, of Newton-le-Willows, was jailed for four months after earlier admitting a public order offence.

Det Insp Jed Pidd, speaking after the case at Wigan Magistrates Court, described Boyd's behaviour as an "absolute disgrace".

Mr Bell died in hospital the following day

He said: "Words can hardly describe the sickening and pathetic nature of his actions.

"He knew full well that there was a man in the back of the ambulance in desperate need of medical help, but continued to drunkenly berate the paramedics and delayed their arrival at hospital.

"In this case the man unfortunately would have died regardless of when they arrived back at hospital, but Boyd wasn't to know this."

A spokesman for North West Ambulance Service previously said the experience had been "frightening" for the crew.

Boyd, of Valentine Road, had jumped in front of the ambulance outside the St Oswald Catholic Social Club.

Mr Bell collapsed playing crown green bowls at the Council Avenue club.