TAFE worker died at Plympton after SA Ambulance said to wait hours for help

A devoted Adelaide dad has been remembered by a local rugby club after he died despite heroic efforts from bystanders. He was given no chance by the ambulance system, his family says.

A father of two young boys – whose priority was “his kids and his wife, partner, soulmate” – was told he might wait hours for an ambulance after calling triple-0.

Andrew, a 47-year-old TAFE employee, was suffering chest pains when he pulled over on Anzac Highway, Plympton, just after 5pm on Monday.

He went into cardiac arrest after 35 minutes and died despite efforts of bystanders who administered CPR and used a defibrillator.

Paramedics finally arrived at the scene at Plympton 42 minutes after the call for help, as other ambulances ramped for up to six hours at Flinders Medical Centre and the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

It was reported that Andrew was told he would have to wait hours for an ambulance.

A local rugby club, the Woodville Wasps, posted a touching Facebook tribute on Wednesday night.

“Sadly we are again a club mourning with the sudden passing of one of our U12’s dads Andrew,” club president Craig Basford said.

He said Andrew was new to the sport with his son, Ethan, joining this year.

“Regardless, his enthusiasm for the game was possibly even greater than that of his son,” Mr Basford said.

“Eager to learn all the laws and properly understand what was going on, he was a regular feature at training and on the sideline each week. Our love and most heartfelt condolences to to his wife … and two boys.”

The club will support the family like “an extended family”, he said.

The under 12 team will this weekend wear black armbands in tribute of a “rugby loving dad, taken too soon.”

The man’s brother-in-law, Nathan Hutchinson, read a statement to Nine News from the man’s partner.

“My partner Andrew was my soulmate and loving father to our children. My heart has been torn in two and I feel broken,” the statement said.

Mr Hutchison said Andrew’s life was “his kids and his wife, partner, soulmate – that was his priority.”

Andrew and his family in a picture from Facebook. Andrew died from a heart attack after waiting for over 40mins for an Ambulance.

TAFE SA chief executive David Coltman in a memo to staff described Andrew as a “not only a highly respected professional … but he would take time out to enjoy a summer Test match and many weekends of cheering on his sons while they competed in football, rugby, and surf lifesaving”.

Premier Peter Malinauskas, who promised to “fix ramping”, has ordered a review but not yet spoken to Andrew’s family. A government spokesman said: “The Premier, through appropriate government channels, is making efforts to reach out to the family but wants to ensure this is done in a respectful manner and in a way the family is comfortable with.”

While a loving family grieves, the death has sparked a political and industrial storm.

Ambulance Employees Association state secretary Leah Watkins suggested chronic ramping had reached a point that people living alone should consider calling a friend to drive them to hospital rather than wait for an ambulance.

Mr Malinauskas distanced himself from this course, saying anyone who required emergency care should call triple-0 for an ambulance.

Nathan Hutchinson. Picture: Nine News

“Alternative transport should only be considered by patients in non-life threatening situations, based off SAAS advice,” he said.

Opposition health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn seized on Ms Watkins’ remarks as evidence of a system lurching deeper into crisis.

“It is an extraordinary state of affairs that South Australians are being told to consider finding their own way to hospital because ambulances are stuck on the ramp for hours on end,” Ms Hurn said.

“Our paramedics are doing the best they can but, despite Peter Malinauskas’ repeated promises to fix it, ramping is the worst it’s ever been.

“Record ramping is preventing our first responders from saving lives and sadly, unless action is taken more tragedies and preventable deaths seem a matter of time.”

Ramping fell from the record 3838 hours lost in June to 3647 hours in July.