A 72-YEAR-OLD man from Falmouth has written to his MP after being left lying in temperatures of -5 for 11 hours with a broken femur.

Michael Onoufriou wrote to Falmouth and Truro MP Cherilyn Mackrory after breaking his femur in a fall outside his home just before Christmas.

Mr Onoufriou says he was walking up some steps near his home at around 7.15pm on December 14 last year when he fell causing the injury.

He said luckily he was able to contact his wife on his mobile and an ambulance was called for the first time at 7:32 pm.

“Despite the fact that I am a 72-year-old pensioner, it being dark, and the temperatures falling to -5 degrees C (windchill), this call was flagged as a category 3,” he said in an email sent to Mrs Mackrory on Saturday and copied to the Packet.

“Further calls were made at 21:35, 00:20, 03:07 and 06:34. Even in light of a local nurse expressing her concerns about my condition in each of the calls, they were subsequently rated only as Category 2.”

He said an ambulance finally arrived at 6:22 am, 11 hours after the initial call. The target time for a Category 2 is 40 minutes for 90% of calls.

“The paramedics were appalled that I had had to wait so long and apologised profusely on behalf of South Western Ambulance Service,” he said. “They provided excellent care and said that had I not been looked after and kept warm I would not have survived the night.

“Even on arrival at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro I was in the care of the ambulance service until the afternoon when a bed was finally found for me.”

He said he would like to pay tribute to his neighbour, nurse Vanessa Harradon and the staff of The Falmouth Hotel who provided blankets, hot drinks, a heater and a light.

“Without their support, I dread to think what might have happened. I am still haunted by the experiences of that night. Even writing this letter has caused me significant emotional distress. I have had to seek support from a mental health specialist for my resulting anxiety.

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“I am horrified that in a developed country in the 21st century, I was only kept alive by the kindness of the local hotel, my family and a neighbour who all also stayed outside all night to keep me safe.”

He said had he fallen in a more remote spot, had it been raining, had I not had my mobile, he shuddered to think what might have happened.

“I worry about what may be happening to countless other of your constituents and I urge you, as my MP, to do something to rectify this inhuman situation and have the courage to stand up for the needs and rights of your constituents,” he said in the email.

South West Ambulance Service has apologised to Mr Onoufriou for the delay.

Cherilyn Mackrory MP and has been contacted for a response.