Communications failure blamed for man's death

NEWS The Greater Manchester Ambulance Service has been forced to take emergency measures after a communications failure was blamed for the death of a 35 year old man. Controllers received an emergency call from Pamela Roche after her husband Billy was taken ill at their Wigan home, but were unable to contact an ambulance crew for 40 minutes. Mr Roche was taken to hospital but doctors were unable to revive him. The service believes a communication cable failed. One hundred ambulances have now been issued with mobile phones to provide a temporary back up system. The Greater Manchester Ambulance Service has launched a full enquiry.