My son's heart 'had stopped' at the hospital doors
The mother of a 35-year-old man who had a heart attack as she rushed him into a hospital in Belfast has spoken of her shock at not being able to get him an ambulance on time.
Isobel Benson rang 999 on Sunday after her son Brian Rooney felt an "explosion" in his chest and was "screaming in agony".
She said a 999 call handler told her they would have to wait hours for an ambulance and advised her to give him painkillers while they waited.
When his condition worsened, Ms Benson struggled to put her son into her car and drove to the emergency department of Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, but he suffered a heart attack at the entrance to the building.
Mr Rooney needed emergency surgery to remove his intestine and is now in an induced coma.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has apologised to the family.
