Filepic for illustration purposes
PETALING JAYA: A patient was killed and five injured after the ambulance they were in met with an accident as it was travelling to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB) in Alor Setar, Kedah.
In a statement, the Health Ministry confirmed that the accident occurred at around 6.25pm Wednesday (July 18) on KM81.4 of the North-South Expressway.
The patient was said to have had a serious illness and infection, and was on the way to HSB to seek medical treatment.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but preliminary findings found that it was likely due to a burst tyre, resulting in the ambulance skidding to the side of the expressway.
"In addition to police investigations, the Ministry will also carry out a detailed investigation into the incident including reviewing aspects related to the ambulance," said Kedah Health Department director Datuk Dr Norhizan Ismail in a statement Thursday.
Other than the ambulance driver, there were five passengers comprising a medical officer, a trained nurse, an assistant nurse, the patient, and the patient's escort.
"An emergency call was received at 6.31pm and HSB's rapid response ambulance arrived at the scene at 6.59pm, and emergency treatment was given," said Dr Norhizan.
He said four victims, including the patient, were ferried in two ambulances to HSB.
Two other personnel involved, namely the driver and assistant nurse, were sent to Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital in Sungai Petani, Kedah.
"Regretfully, the patient's condition declined and he later passed away at the HSB emergency department at 8.40pm the same day," said Dr Norhizan.
"The post-mortem will be conducted today to identify the cause of the patient's death," he said.
Dr Norhizan said all the injured victims were in stable condition.
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