Pregnant Wife’s Heartbreak: ‘I Held Aaron’s Hand as His Heart Took Its Last Beat’ After Ambulance Delay
In a deeply tragic incident, Samantha Morris, who was 13 weeks pregnant with twins, found herself navigating an ambulance to the hospital while her husband, Aaron Morris, 31, fought for his life after a severe motorbike crash. As reported by The Sun, Samantha had been on her way to reunite with Aaron, who had recently spent a night in the hospital, when she came across the heartbreaking scene—her husband lying in the road after his motorcycle collided with a car in Esh Winning, County Durham.
An inquest at Darlington Coroner’s Court revealed the painful details of the day. Aaron had initially been conscious and breathing after the crash, but a long wait for help contributed to a rapid decline in his condition. The ambulance, operated by third-party service Ambulanz, took a shocking 54 minutes to arrive, despite desperate calls from onlookers, including a nurse who was a friend of Samantha’s. Aaron’s condition deteriorated, and he went into cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital.
Reflecting on the harrowing moments in the ambulance, Samantha shared her heartbreak with the court: “I was there to hold Aaron’s hand as his heart took its last beat.” After arriving at the University Hospital of North Durham, Aaron tragically passed away shortly after, leaving Samantha, their unborn twins, and loved ones devastated by the unexpected loss.
During the inquest, Samantha recounted the distressing ride to the hospital, revealing that the ambulance driver had asked her for directions. Initially, the driver was headed to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) when Aaron’s condition worsened. With quick thinking, Samantha directed them to the nearest hospital instead, but her anguish over the decision lingers. “I was 13 weeks pregnant and my husband was having CPR in the back of the ambulance. Why should I make the decision on what hospital my husband should be taken to?” she questioned tearfully, adding, “I have to live with the fact that if I said the RVI, he might still be alive to this day.”
Samantha expressed empathy for the ambulance driver, noting that the real failure was in the lack of proper training. “The driver made the right decision to ask. I don’t fault him for that… My fault is with the people who manage and train him, who should have given him the tools to know where the nearest hospital is,” she said, showing remarkable compassion despite her personal loss.
The ongoing inquest has raised pressing concerns about emergency response protocols and ambulance service delays. Initial proceedings began in May but were postponed after the coroner designated the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) as an interested party.
Durham Constabulary officers who were at the scene provided their testimony. DC Rebecca Shaw, who was off-duty and nearby, recounted her experience discovering Aaron on the road, surrounded by onlookers. She made multiple emergency calls and even handed her phone to an off-duty nurse in a bid to get him timely assistance.
The heartbreaking details of Aaron’s final moments continue to emerge, underscoring the critical need for improvements in emergency response. Samantha’s testimony highlights not only the intense personal loss she endures but also systemic issues that may impact countless others in need of urgent care.