John Mulcrone, 78, of Horsforth Avenue, Bridlington, collapsed in the early hours of the morning, leaving his wife Joan and grandson Ian frantically dialling 999 – only to be told the nearest ambulance was in Pocklington.

Mr Mulcrone stopped breathing and an emergency doctor was sent from Driffield.

Although he arrived within 10 minutes it was too late to save Mr Mulcrone's life.

He died of heart failure several minutes before the doctor arrived and three quarters of an hour before the ambulance turned up.

"Surely this kind of thing shows how much Bridlington needs ambulance and hospital facilities," said Ian, 18, who has lived with his grandparents since his mother died seven years ago.

"Grandad was in a poor state of health and we can't be sure that an ambulance would have saved his life but there will be others out there who have a better chance of survival if an ambulance is available straight away."

Mrs Mulcrone shares her grandson's views and said it was "ridiculous" sending an ambulance from Pocklington and transferring patients to Scarborough when Bridlington had its own hospital.

"I asked why there wasn't one coming from Bridlington but they just said there wasn't one available," she said.

"It would be awful for this to happen to other people who could be saved.

"Something should be done."

Mrs Mulcrone said the ambulance arrived at Horsforth Avenue via Hilderthorpe Road, which would not have been the quickest route.

"Obviously coming from Pocklington, the drivers just aren't going to know the town like an ambulance from Bridlington would," she said.

Ian said since he had moved to Bridlington he had witnessed the town's hospital facilities steadily deteriorate.

"I don't know who is deciding to take ambulances away from Bridlington but surely the fatality rate is going to go up if we all have to go to Scarborough.

"It's a long journey if you're in a critical condition," Ian said.

Paul Mudd, assistant director of ambulance operations for Hull and East Yorkshire, confirmed the Yorkshire Ambulance Service received the emergency call and sent the nearest available ambulance crew to the incident.

However, despite being contacted by the Free Press repeatedly since last Thursday, no-one from the ambulance service was able to comment on why there were no ambulances nearer to Bridlington at the time of the call, which was made at 1.02am.

The country road route from Pocklington to Bridlington is 28 miles long.

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