Patient dies after ambulance bursts into flames outside hospital

An elderly patient has died and a paramedic is in hospital with serious burns after an ambulance burst into flames.

The horrific incident happened outside the Naas General Hospital in County Kildare, Ireland, at about 2pm, as the man was being taken to the emergency unit.

It is understood the victim was aged around 70 and in the back of the vehicle when the blaze broke out.

Two paramedics were injured as they fought to save his life.

The first, a man in his 30s, was transferred to the specialist burns unit at St James' Hospital in Dublin.

While his injuries are serious, they are not believed to be life-threatening.

The second, a man also said to be in his 30s, is believed to have been treated for minor injuries.

Emergency services said the hospital's casualty department was closed following the fire.

Witness Rob Moore was inside the hospital when the fire alarm sounded.

"I don't know what actually happened, but the whole thing just went up," he said.

"As I came out of the door of the hospital I could see two paramedics at the back (of the ambulance), one of them was really severely burnt.

"I think there was a fireman there, who was off-duty, He started to get things under control."

Mr Moore said he did not hear an explosion but believed he heard a bang or a thud.

Authorities including the Garda and the Health and Safety Authority are investigating the cause of the fire.

Ambulances normally carry up to six sealed cylinders of different types of potentially flammable gas to treat patients.

A spokesman for the Health Service Executive (HSE) said the hospital was advising people in need of care to visit their doctor in the first instance or to go to another emergency department in an alternative hospital if necessary.

Ambulances over seven years old are required to be replaced for safety reasons.

The ambulance involved is understood to be about a year old.

The HSE had €7.5m (£6.4m) to buy 47 new vehicles last year. It is understood the National Ambulance Service fleet replacement scheme had more than €18m (£15.5m) to invest this year on 50 new vehicles.

An urgent examination of the ambulance fleet is needed, SIPTU union representatives have said.

Paul Bell expressed sympathy with the family of the patient, as well as "grave concern" for the two paramedics who "tried in vain to save his life".

"This tragedy should never have happened," he added.

National Ambulance Service Representative Association chairman Michael Dixon also offered his condolences.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the man who lost his life in the back of the ambulance," he said. "We are also concerned for the two paramedics injured as well."