Family of Jersey man who died after medics' care breached health and safety law speak out
ITV Channel's Emma Volney reports on the controversial case and what may happen next
The family of a Jersey man who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest while in the care of medics have spoken out for the first time.
Frazer Irvine, 39, died in March 2022, whilst in the care of ambulance technician Tom Le Sauteur, 36, and paramedic John Sutherland, 61.
Le Sauteur and Sutherland were found guilty of failing to provide reasonable care to Mr Irvine in the moments before his death.
In a statement, Mr Irvine's family says: "We are convinced, as are many others, that if even basic first aid had been administered then Frazer may well have survived.
"The actions of the paramedics fell well below any acceptable standards of care, even the expert hired by the defendants could not defend their actions.
"On 18 March 2022, Frazer reached out for help but was tragically let down by those whose job it was to administer that help. What is hard to accept is that those in a caring profession could show such little regard for human life."
The family adds: "Frazer was a much-loved son, brother, uncle and friend. The efforts to portray Frazer as a violent, aggressive drunk could not be further from the truth.
"Anyone who viewed the CCTV that the paramedics obviously never realised was recording, the subsequent evidence from body worn cameras and the evidence provided in court by witnesses will be aware of the truth.
"The authorities in Jersey do not bring cases lightly. They must decide that there is both a reasonable prospect of conviction and that the prosecution is in the public interest."
However, Le Sauteur and Sutherland have told ITV News that they intend to appeal the decision of Jurats.
The two men were sentenced at Jersey's Royal Court to pay £500 each in legal costs and issued a 'conditional discharge' for two years - which means they will not face punishment unless they re-offend within two years.
Le Sauteur explains: "We will be lodging an appeal in the next week or so to overturn this decision.
"The public support has been fantastic and a total gamechanger. As far as John and I are concerned, the court and the Jurats are entitled to their opinion but we're public servants and the public's opinion matters to us, their verdict appears to be pretty unanimous."
Hundreds of people gathered outside St Helier Ambulance Station after the guilty verdict to protest the decision.
Unite the Union is calling for a judical review into the legal case.
Regional officer James Turner says: "Unite believes there are serious questions to be asked about how the law has been applied in this case, whether that application was in the public interest and if the case should have been brought to trial."
A fundraiser set up to support the medics has also raised more than £47,000, although it has brought their access to legal aid into question.
Le Sauteur explains: "We are meeting the young lady who set up the crowdfunding page on Wednesday. Both John and I are committed though that, no matter what happens, we won't be financially gaining from this at all.
"We'll have to wait and see where we are with funding from legal aid but we are committed to appeal and will have to do whatever we can to make that happen."
Both men have been suspended by their employer Jersey Ambulance Service since 23 March 2022 pending the outcome of an internal investigation, due to conclude in the coming weeks.
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