Lucas Pollard: Ambulance service 'sorry' for dying teen delay

Lucas Pollard's family paid tribute to a "kind and thoughtful, caring and lovable" boy with "the most contagious laugh"

A paramedic based just three minutes from the road where a 14-year-old boy lay dying was not sent out because of an "end of shift policy".

An inquest into the death of Lucas Pollard heard it took an extra 15 minutes for an ambulance to arrive in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.

Lucas was riding his new electric dirt bike with a friend in the early hours of 1 June 2023 when he crashed.

The East of England Ambulance Service apologised for the delay.

The inquest at Ampthill Coroner's Court heard Lucas, from Leighton Buzzard, had been given the electric Sur-Ron dirt bike just a day before the fatal collision after his mother, Marie, won it in a raffle.

He was riding the bike at 01:00 BST with his 15-year-old friend on the back.

The bike went "at speed" down Old Road before it wobbled and crashed into a sign.

A householder heard the impact and dialled 999 at 01:33. An ambulance was dispatched from Luton and the crew arrived at 01:51 despite a rapid response vehicle being based only three minutes' drive away.

Dr David Kirby from the Luton and Dunstable Hospital said Lucas arrived at 02:37 and was pronounced dead at 03:11.

A neighbour called 999 after hearing the crash on Leighton Road, but a nearby paramedic was not dispatched to the scene

He said Lucas had suffered so many severe injuries, including to his chest and lungs, it was unlikely he could have ever survived.

The pillion passenger survived.

David Grover of the East of England Ambulance Service, compiled a report for the coroner and said the ambulance trust's end of shift policy had originally been introduced for staff well-being.

He confirmed staff would only be called out in the last 30 minutes of their shift for particular circumstances such as cardiac arrest or maternity calls.

Assistant coroner for Bedfordshire and Luton, Dr Sean Cummings said he was "surprised" the inquest report prepared by the East of England Ambulance Trust did not mention the fact the rapid response vehicle was only three minutes away.

Dr Cummings said it could be seen as a "deliberate attempt to mislead the court".

He concluded Lucas died following a road traffic collision.

Dr Cummings confirmed he would write a Prevention of Future death report in relation to the "rigid application of the end of shift policy" and "communication gaps" within the ambulance service.

Lucas was riding a new electric dirt bike in the early hours of the morning when he lost control and crashed into a street sign

After the hearing Lucas's dad, Lee, said: "It was a total shock to hear today that the rapid response vehicle was in the town.

"We are pleased the coroner has taken it on board. He is going to push for change."

Lucas' sister Chloe Pollard, 25, said she understood why there was an end of shift policy, but added: "If the rapid response vehicle had gone there, the assessment of what was needed could have taken place earlier."

In a tribute she said her brother was "caring, kind, thoughtful and cheeky" with "the most contagious laugh".

Melissa Dowdeswell, chief of clinical operations at the East of England Ambulance Service, said: "Our hearts go out to Lucas' family and friends and we apologise for the length of time it took us to get to him.

"Following this tragic incident, we are reviewing our end of shift policy to ensure it achieves the right balance in meeting patients' needs and the health and wellbeing of our staff."