Two ambulancemen have been arrested by police after they were heard allegedly discussing whether they should bother to resuscitate a disabled man who had collapsed at home and subsequently died.

Barry Baker, 59, who lived alone, had dialled 999 saying that he thought he was having a heart attack. An ambulance was sent to his house while a controller kept him talking on the line.

By the time the ambulancemen arrived at the house in Patcham, Brighton, Mr Baker had collapsed, but the telephone line was still open and was being recorded.

It is alleged that staff in the control centre heard the two medics making disparaging comments about the state of the house.

A police source, who asked not to be named, said that the ambulancemen were then heard discussing Mr Baker and saying “words to the effect that he was not worth saving”.

The source said that the two men were allegedly first heard commenting on the untidy state of the house and then saying that it was not worth bothering to resuscitate Mr Baker.

They are said to have discussed what to tell ambulance control and decided to say that Mr Baker was already dead when they got there.

The controllers were said to be so shocked by what had allegedly been said that they contacted senior managers, who called the police.

“Obviously the crew did not realise that the phone was still connected and, of course, the 999 call was recorded on tape,” the source said.

“The tape recording of what the paramedics allegedly said has been handed over to the Sussex Police Major Crime Team as evidence.”

Sussex Police confirmed that two men had been arrested and that a full-scale investigation into the incident was being carried out by the major crime team.

A police spokeswoman said: “The men, aged 35 years and 44 years and from the Brighton area, have been arrested and questioned following the death of a man in Brighton.

“They were detained on suspicion of wilfully neglecting to perform a duty in public office, contrary to Common Law. They have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.”

The two men, who are both based at Brighton ambulance station, have been bailed until a date in January and have been suspended from duty.

Mr Baker, who used sticks to help to him walk after undergoing hip replacement surgery, made the emergency call to the South East Coast Ambulance Service headquarters in Lewes in the early hours of November 29.

He told the controller that he was suffering from severe chest pains. The ambulance crew from Brighton was immediately sent to his home with blue lights on.

A spokeswoman for the NHS Trust said: “South East Coast Ambulance Service has suspended two male members of staff from duty as police conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a man at his home in Brighton on Saturday November 29.

“The men were arrested by Sussex Police on December 5 on suspicion of wilfully neglecting to perform a duty in public office.

“We are giving the police our full cooperation in this matter and are not in a position to comment further at this time due to the police investigation taking place.”

Mr Baker’s funeral has had to be delayed because of the investigation, but a memorial service is due to take place at All Saints Church in Patcham on January 16. Paul Newman, landlord of the Ladies Mile, where a wake is due to be held, said yesterday that Mr Baker was a popular figure.

“He used to come to the pub every Sunday morning at opening time. He arrived by bus and met friends here and together they played a few hands of cards. He did it every Sunday without fail and was a really nice chap.”

It is understood that a report on the incident has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service for a decision on whether the two men should be charged.

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