Collapsed man waited hour for aid

An ambulance took Mr Burton to hospital in Bridgend after he collapsed

A man who collapsed after a football match had to wait nearly an hour for an ambulance, an inquest has heard.

Martyn Burton, 31, from Bury, Greater Manchester, had been playing for a deaf football team in a Vale of Glamorgan tournament in before he fell ill.

He experienced chest and jaw pains for an estimated 45 minutes before medical help arrived and died in hospital later the same day.

Bridgend Coroner Philip Walters recorded an open verdict.

Mr Burton was player-manager of his football team and played a part in their 4-3 victory ahead of his collapse in the changing rooms after the game in Llantwit Major.

The inquest at Brackla Tabernacle Church near Bridgend heard that by the time an ambulance arrived on 4 February last year Mr Burton had stopped breathing.

We had waited 45 minutes for the ambulance. We waited too long - that was it. Team mate Mark Guerrieria

He was later pronounced dead at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend shortly after arriving by ambulance at 1805 GMT.

Mark Guerrieria, one of Mr Burton's team mates, told the inquest he had attempted to find out what was wrong with Mr Burton after he was told about his collapse.

"He said 'I feel really bad and I have got pains in my chest'," said Mr Guerrieria. "Five minutes later he said he had pains in his jaw.

"Martyn was getting worse and he was sick two or three times."

He told the inquest how he tried to resuscitate Mr Burton for 10 minutes after he had stopped breathing before the ambulance arrived

"I was getting angry - it took ages," added Mr Guerrieria. "We had waited 45 minutes for the ambulance. We waited too long - that was it."

Further inquiries

Dr Alan Martin Rees told the inquest he was unable to identify the cause of Mr Burton's death but he further inquiries would take place about his medical history to try to establish a cause.

"There is nothing to suggest injury from another person," said Dr Rees. "There is nothing to suggest that this death is related to alcohol or drugs.

"There is no evidence of life-threatening disease, however, certain conditions can cause death with nothing to see in the autopsy especially epilepsy, asthma and cardiac arrhythmia."

A spokesman for the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust said: "Unfortunately, we feel we are unable to comment following the coroner's report and the results of the inquest.

"The family have got all our sympathies but we feel unable to comment until we are able to read what was said on the day."