Young rugby player’s long 999 wait after leg break

Newspaper: Wakefield Express.
Story: Eleven years old Drew Wright from Normanton, West Yorkshire, was left waiting on a rugby field in agony for almost three hours after a bad tackle left him with a shattered fibia, tibia and ankle. The family were advised to complain by paramedics who arrived on the scene and he is now using crutches.
Drew is pictured with his father, Chris.
Photo Date: 30/04/15
Photo Ref: AB019a0415 — Newspaper: Wakefield Express. Story: Eleven years old Drew Wright from Normanton, West Yorkshire, was left waiting on a rugby field in agony for almost three hours after a bad tackle left him with a shattered fibia, tibia and ankle. The family were advised to complain by paramedics who arrived on the scene and he is now using crutches. Drew is pictured with his father, Chris. Photo Date: 30/04/15 Photo Ref: AB019a0415

Lock Lane Juniors player Drew Wright, 11, from Normanton, was left screaming in agony without pain relief after he shattered his tibia and fibia and broke his ankle in a match against Stanningley under 11s.

But after several calls and more than two hours later, paramedics still hadn’t arrived at the William Street pitch in Castleford.

Drew’s Dad, Chris Wright, of Newfield Crescent, Normanton, said: “It’s the worst thing you go through to see your child laid on the floor and knowing there’s nothing you can do. There are worse emergencies but it was a young lad in pain, someone should have got there faster.”

Dennis Wright, Drew’s grandad who was at the game, said: “When it happened we phoned 999 straight away. After half an hour we rang again, then again an hour later, still nothing. Everyone was disgusted with the response.”

Drew, a pupil at Altofts Junior School, was eventually taken to Pinderfields Hospital.

The Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) apologised the delay and said it happened during a period of high demand.

A YAS spokesperson said: “We want to reassure people our main priority continues to be providing a safe, responsive and high quality service.”