Mersey man seemed to ‘run’ into path of ambulance, an inquest told

Aug 31 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Bromborough and Bebington News

A WIRRAL man who died after being struck by an ambulance “seemed to suddenly run out” into its path, an inquest heard.

John Francis Connolly, 51, of Wildbrook Drive, Bidston, was hit by the emergency vehicle on Fender Lane in Moreton just before 5am on Sunday.

He suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

An inquest was opened and adjourned by Wirral coroner Christopher Johnson last Thursday.

Coroner’s officer, Arthur Flower, said: “At 4.57am, an ambulance was travelling along Fender Lane en route to an emergency call.

“The vehicle was reportedly travelling at about 40mph. The lights and klaxons were not in operation. At the junction of Fender Lane, Bidston Link Road and Bidston Bypass, the deceased seemed to suddenly run out into its path and was subsequently struck by the vehicle.”

Another ambulance was called, but Mr Connolly was pronounced dead at 5.08am.

The inquest heard Mr Connolly had been discharged from hospital two days before his death after being admitted on Sunday, August 13, when his partner found him lying in bed, unresponsive.

Mr Flower said he went missing from a ward the following Tuesday, prompting a huge search of the hospital grounds.

Mr Connolly, who had a long-standing history of anxiety and had been prescribed anti-depressants, was found the following day in woods near a car park at the rear of the hospital.

He was reviewed by a psychiatrist and a follow-up arranged for August 31.

After being discharged from hospital last Friday, he went to stay with his mum. She discovered he had left the house when she went downstairs on Sunday morning.

A post-mortem carried out on Wednesday found he died from a ruptured thoracic aorta.

The inquest was adjourned until a date to be fixed. The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and Merseyside Police are carrying out a joint investigation into the incident.