A ROW has erupted after a paramedic called an air ambulance to stretcher an injured woman a few hundred yards.

Mandy George, from Plaxtol, near Sevenoaks, was riding a horse across a field near Victoria Road, Kingsdown, when it tripped and fell on her.

Passer-by Douglas Lee, of Northcote Road and his wife, Sandra, called for an ambulance which arrived in 30 minutes, but the closest it could get was a few hundred yards away.

The paramedic decided that it was not in Mrs George’s interests to attempt to lift her back to the ambulance, despite Mr Lee and others offering to help.

He requested Kent Air Ambulance, but as that and Essex Air Ambulance could not attend, a police helicopter from Sussex was sent. Mrs George was taken to the QEQM hospital, Margate.

Mrs George, who suffered severe bruising and injured her knee, said: "It took around two hours before the helicopter arrived.

"I do not blame the paramedic, but I didn’t feel it was necessary to call the air ambulance. At one point, I tried to stand up and said I would hobble to the ambulance, if the others could help me."

Mr Lee added: "I heard the paramedic say over the radio: 'We can’t do the lift because we would be liable' That’s what makes me cross – the fact he couldn’t use judgement."

But Victoria Road resident Theresa Cross telephoned Kent Ambulance HQ, demanding the paramedic did not face any disciplinary procedures.

She added: "The ambulance crew did the right thing. Nobody knew then what her injury was. If they had dropped her off the stretcher they could have been sued."