Woman died after ambulance got lost on way to hospital when its sat-nav stopped working

The paramedic attending to Kay Gadsby, 21, had to clamber into the front to help the driver work out the way to hospital, as the terrified patient repeatedly asked her mother: 'Mummy, I'm not going to die, am I?'

Miss Gadsby's father, who initially followed the ambulance in his car, got to the hospital first.

Ambulance delay tragedy: Kay Gadsby died after the ambulance taking her to hospital got lost following its Sat Nav

His daughter, who suffered from heart and kidney problems, died there several hours later.

The inexperienced female ambulance driver had only gone to the Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby once before – using a different route.

The inexperienced female ambulance driver had only gone to the Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby once before – using a different route.

The ambulance had been called in mid-afternoon after Miss Gadsby collapsed at the caravan home in Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, which she shared with her parents, Russell and Georgina.

Mr Gadsby, 50, travelled in his car while his wife went with their daughter. He said he queued a long time for petrol and still got to the hospital – 30 miles away – 15 minutes before the ambulance.

Birthday girl: Ten years ago Kay (pictured on her 21st) became Britain's youngest heart and kidney transplant patient and had suffered serious medical problems ever since

'My wife said they took a wrong turn in Grimsby and were going up and down for ages trying to work out where to go,' he said.

'The lady in the back keeping an eye on Kay spent more time with her head out of the window trying to help the driver find their way.

'We have spoken to doctors and nobody can really say either way if Kay would have survived if they had not got lost. But the delay in getting her to hospital has made the situation worse. She was our only child. Nothing will ever bring Kay back to us.'

Recalling the ambulance journey, Mrs Gadsby, 46, said: 'Kay was panicking and kept saying, "I'm not going to die, am I, mummy?". I just can't believe she's not here any more.'

In 1998 Miss Gadsby had had a heart and kidney transplant. She had a second kidney transplant five years ago and she was was on dialysis waiting for a third transplant because that organ also failed.

Mr Gadsby said that after the journey to hospital, his daughter's heart stopped.

Doctors gave up the battle to revive her at around 10pm that night. The Gadsbys have lodged an official complaint with the East Midlands Ambulance Service and hope lessons will be learned.

A spokesman for the service said: 'During the journey the ambulance satellite-navigation system failed. The driver, who usually operates in the Skegness area, took a wrong turn.

'The crew member in the rear of the vehicle, who was familiar with the area, was able to direct the driver back on course.'

He said the patient's condition was monitored throughout the journey and the wrong turn only caused a delay of 'a few minutes'.

Staff would be given additional training to ensure they know where hospitals are, he added.