Man Billed for an Ambulance After Father Dies [VIDEO]
A Washington, D.C. man is upset he was billed for calling an ambulance after his father died.
Durant Ford, Jr. said DC Fire & EMS sent him a $780.85 bill for ambulance that he called for his 71-year-old father who had trouble breathing on the morning of Jan. 1.
His father died waiting for that ambulance, which took more than 30 minutes to arrive, according to News4. Ford said he made the 911 call at 1:25 a.m. but the ambulance didn't arrive until 1:58 a.m.
"[We're] very angry about what happened and the service we did not receive from the district," he said. "My sister and I are still grieving about the situation."
Records indicated that a DC Fire truck arrived only 9 minutes after the 911 call was made because an ambulance was not available. According to Prince George County Fire and EMS, the fire department failed to request county medical assistance until 1:47 a.m. One minute later, the county dispatched an ambulance from Oxon Hill to go to the Ford's house. That ambulance arrived at 1:58 a.m.
By that time, Ford's father had passed away.
"We did respond as quickly as possible. I think we were at the area in question in 9 minutes. The challenge was for us providing ambulance service," Chief Kenneth Ellerbe from DC Fire/EMS said in an interview with NBC.
Yvette Alexander, a D.C. councilwoman, said she is working with the Ford family to get the bill resolved.
"Based on my experience in similar circumstances, District of Columbia Fire and EMS has not billed. This seems quite unusual, and I will help the family resolve this matter," Alexander said.
"I feel angry. Upset," Ford Jr. said. "I'm disturbed that we even received this bill."
Watch an interview with Ford, Jr. HERE
