Jail for paramedic who failed to resuscitate 30-stone man

A PARAMEDIC was jailed for 12 months yesterday after being found guilty of telling a series of lies when he failed to resuscitate a 30-stone man.

Jurors heard that Karl Harris, 45, told his less experienced colleague there was "no point" in attempting to resuscitate Barry Baker after the pair were sent to his home in Brighton.

The 59-year-old patient, who lived alone, phoned 999 after experiencing breathing difficulties at 4:14am on 29 November, 2008, and died after suffering a cardiopulmonary arrest.

Jurors at Lewes Crown Court, East Sussex, took just over four hours to find Harris guilty of a charge of perverting the course of justice.

Sentencing him immediately, Judge Guy Anthony said Harris had demonstrated a "gross breach of trust".

The father of two was suspended from his role at South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust following Mr Baker's death.

During the four-day trial, jurors heard a recording of the emergency call, in which Mr Baker's laboured, heavy breathing could be heard, before Harris and trainee technician Ben Stokes entered the house and spoke to him six minutes later.

Minutes later, a thump was audible, which, the jury was told, was the sound of Mr Baker falling to the ground.