EMAS apology over American Football injury wait

Organisers said the player could have suffered more if the weather had been colder

An NHS boss has apologised after a man with a suspected spinal injury had to wait more than two hours for an ambulance.

The player was hurt during an amateur American Football game in Nottingham on Sunday.

Organisers said they were "embarrassed" and "angry" the player was left lying in pain for so long.

East Midlands Ambulance Service said the wait was unacceptable and an investigation had been launched.

Nottingham Caesars were playing the Doncaster Mustangs at Southglade leisure centre when one of the visiting players suffered the injury.

First aid staff diagnosed a possible spinal injury and the ambulance was called.

'Full investigation'

Caesars head coach Barry Boseley said: "All they asked was 'was he breathing?'. Then a response unit turned up, they checked him over then out of the blue, they just picked up and walked him while he was squealing in pain. Then we had to wait some more.

"It was an embarrassment for us for people to see Nottingham like that. If it had been raining or winter he could have frozen to death.

"Angry doesn't cover it. It was really upsetting for us and the spectators."

Greg Cox, the general manager of Nottinghamshire EMAS, said: "I apologise and it is clearly an unacceptable response.

"There was a spike in demand that day but that does not excuse this. It is difficult to comment further until this is investigated fully and properly."

According to Mr Boseley, the extent of the player's injury is still being assessed.