A GOOD Samaritan who helped an elderly man after he collapsed has criticised the ambulance service after it diverted paramedics to other calls twice.

Brian Roberts, of Fieldgate Dock, Brightlingsea, spotted the man, 83, on the ground in High Street, Clacton.

He had sustained head injuries and was unconscious following the fall.

Mr Roberts said: “I did some basic first aid along with three public-spirited women and a traffic warden.

“We phoned 999 for an ambulance, but 1h 15m elapsed and we all became increasingly concerned about the man’s condition.

“The weather was cold and he was lying on the pavement.

“Three further emergency phone calls were made, and a a request for police to attend, all to no avail.”

Mr Robert said the ambulance service call handler said she could not say when or if an ambulance would arrive.

He said: “We were concernsed about his apparently deteriorating condition, “One of the women decided to drive the gentleman the short distance to Clacton’s hospital.

“Surely in Great Britain in 2013 we can expect emergency services to respond to an elderly person lying injured in the street?

“The response was pathetic.”

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said it was called on November 23 at 1.49pm to a man who had fallen and suffered facial injuries.

He said: “He was conscious and breathing throughout.

“We had a paramedic in a response car on its way twice, which had to be diverted both times to more serious calls.

“At 2.39pm he was off the floor and a member of the public reported they were taking the man to hospital.”