The son of an elderly cancer patient who died after being dropped on his head by ambulance staff said his father paid “the ultimate price” when they failed to report the fall.
The family of retired broker Ken Thomas, 81, won a five-figure payout from South East Coast Ambulance after it discovered the ambulance staff from Chertsey had not recorded their mistake.
The Hinchley Wood Rotary Club member’s head injury went unnoticed for five days until a brain scan showed a haemorrhage.
He died in Kingston Hospital on July 5, 2009.
Mr Thomas had been planning to move house from his home in Manor Road North the day after his fall on June 25, 2009.
His son Mike Thomas, 48, a sales manager from Stoneleigh, came forward to talk to the Surrey Comet about his father’s death.
He said: “It’s not about pointing fingers at the ambulance crew. Everyone makes mistakes.
“It is more I’m cross they didn’t have the courage to say they made a mistake or they didn’t realise how badly he was injured by an accident.
“It was never about money. It was more because dad was such an honest person it was about someone putting their hands up. He paid the ultimate price.”
South East Coast Ambulance apologised and agreed the five figure payout last month.
His family said the ambulance service now used the mistakes as a case study for staff.
His widow, Shelagh, 79, was in talks with Elmbridge Council to unveil a bench on the top of Telegraph Hill, Claygate, where Mr Thomas used to walk his labrador Buster.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here