Ambulance controllers ‘not aware boy fell from window’ in Midleton

An ambulance going to the aid of a stricken toddler was called off after controllers were not told on a 999 call the child fell from an upstairs window, and believed he sustained a “bump” after a “simple” fall.

Vakaris Martinaitis died on May 8, two days after he sustained horrific head injuries in the fall at his family’s home at the Paddocks, Castleredmond, Midleton.

The HSE launched an investigation into how the ambulance service dealt with the 999 call following the fall, including the fact that ambulance control said no ambulance was available.

While that investigation is, as yet, unpublished, it emerged at an inquest into the little boy’s death that a call from a neighbour, Kevin Hennessy, to the emergency services did not mention the boy fell from a window.

Mr Hennessy had arrived at the scene of the accident as the little boy was being comforted by his father Vidas, who moved to Midleton from Lithuania nine years ago. Before Mr Hennessy arrived, Vidas had moved his son from the concrete to a grass area away from the window.

Mr Hennessy told the inquest Vidas Martinaitis’s English was “not great” but he heard “bystanders” suggesting the child may have fallen from the window. However, a transcript of the call showed he had not told the ambulance control that.

Ambulance call-taker Richard Walsh outlined to the inquest that in the 999 call to him he was told the child was lying on a lawn and that there was nothing nearby from which he could have fallen. He was also told the child was crying loudly, a sign he was conscious and alert, and that his arms and legs were moving. The paramedic said he “genuinely thought the child had suffered a simple fall” and that he did not think it was a life-threatening situation.

He said there was no ambulance available in close proximity at that time as three appliances in Midleton, Fermoy and Youghal were all on calls. He told the inquest he advised Mr Hennessy the child should be taken to the South Doc GP service in Midleton.

The inquest was adjourned last night and continues next Tuesday.