Distraught widow releases harrowing final picture of husband dying from meningitis after FIVE HOUR wait for ambulance

Lisa Mpongwana, whose husband Mthuthuzeli died of meningitis, believes he would still be alive if an ambulance had not taken 5 hours tom arrive. Pictured Lisa Mpongwana with Mthuthuzeli on a life support machine

Distraught with grief, Lisa Mpongwana clings on to her husband as he lay dying from meningitis in hospital.

The 27-year-old widow has chosen to release the distressing image to highlight the crisis gripping the NHS after it took FIVE HOURS for an ambulance to bring Mthuthuzeli Mpongwana to hospital.

Heartbroken Lisa has told how she was forced to endure the wait on January 5 after her 38-year-old husband started showing symptoms of meningitis at home.

During this time his health drastically deteriorated and by the time paramedics arrived he was completely unresponsive.

He never regained consciousness and within two days Lisa had to make the hardest decision of her life to switch his life support machine off. It was confirmed he had died of meningitis of the brain.

The 27-year-old is convinced that her husband would still be alive if paramedics had arrived faster.

South Western Ambulance Service has apologised for the hold-up blaming it on a "very busy time".

She said: "I called 111 because I could see he was bad, he couldn't stand being around lights at all. The caller said they would send a blue lights ambulance straight away because they thought it was serious.

"We then had to wait until 1.30am for one man in a car to arrive.

"At first he thought it was just the flu and called the GP out-of-hours for advice about whether he should admit him to hospital. He then called for an ambulance but it took until 4.30am for it to arrive.

"At the beginning my husband was talking and asking questions, by the time they arrived he was completely unresponsive."

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South Western Ambulance Service has apologised for the hold-up blaming it on a "very busy time"

 

Now Lisa, of Bedminster, Wilts, is appealing for help to raise more than £5,000 to pay for her husband's funeral.

Lisa has been left devastated by Mthuthuzeli's death. She said: "My husband was my soulmate and best friend who stood by me throughout my highs and my lows.

"When my dad passed away last year he was my rock."

The widow says she has been overwhelmed by the support for her appeal for help with the funeral expenses so far. In just three days, nearly £2,000 has been donated.