A DAD criticised ambulance workers after his son died.

Marlon Sherman spoke out as the East of England Ambulance Service issued a formal apology over the death of his brain-damaged eight-year-old son Harry.

Bosses confirmed a case of gross misconduct has been proved against the two staff involved, who have quit their jobs.

After the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings, Mr Sherman, 42, and Harry’s mum Alison Day, 45,of Berechurch Hall Road, Colchester, revealed how events unfolded during their brave boy’s last hours in April this year.

Mr Sherman said they dialled 999 when the youngster began having breathing problems but it took nearly half an hour for an ambulance to arrive.

He said by the time the crew got there, he was unconscious but they made no attempt at mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and took him to Colchester General Hospital where he later died.

Mr Sherman said he now planned to take legal action.

“These guys played God, and didn’t do anything,” he said.

“These are guys who are meant to have been trained and they came into my home and saw a child dying and didn’t do anything about it.

“I was forced to do CPR both here and standing in the ambulance while the paramedic drove and the technician watched.

“This is not about money but it’s the only way the ambulance service understand.

“No price in the world will bring Harry back.”

Harry was born six weeks prematurely and was left with serious brain damage after complications.

He was never able to walk or speak properly and suffered from quadriplegic cerebral palsy, but managed to attend Cherry Tree Primary and Lexden Springs schools.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said last night: “We have offered our sincere apologies and condolences to Mr Sherman and his family over the care of his son Harry, and would value the opportunity to meet with him to explain the outcome of the investigation.

“As soon as we became aware of this tragic incident, the ambulance crew involved was immediately suspended pending an investigation, and both have since left our employment.

“The crew’s behaviour and their treatment of the patient was completely unacceptable and well below the high standards of clinical care on which we pride ourselves.

“The details of the case have been passed to the Health Professions Council, which governs the fitness to practice and registration of paramedics.”

She added that the service deals with 540,000 emergency calls every year and receives more compliments than complaints.

An investigation has revealed that there was no malfunction in the satellite navigation device used by the crew.