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Mthuthuzeli Mpongwana, from Bristol, died two days after a paramedic told him he didn't need hospital treatment, despite showing typical symptoms.

His wife Lisa Armitage had called the medical advice number 111 two days earlier because her husband had a sore neck, struggled to look at light and had a bad headache.

She was told to wait for a rapid response vehicle with blue lights on, and when it finally arrived three hours later the paramedic, Dana Noriega, told Ms Armitage her husband was suffering from "man flu".

He then downgraded Mr Mpongwana's case at 1.50am, and said he had been told there were no ambulances available.

He did not request a high-priority ambulance until 3.50am after Mr Mpongwana's health had rapidly deteriorated.

(Image: PA)

The ambulance finally arrived at 4.20am.

Mr Mpongwana was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary, where his life support was switched off at 12.30pm on January 7.

Ms Armitage told the inquest in Flax Bourton: "I told the ambulance service my husband's condition was deteriorating.

(Image: PA)

"While I was on the phone, a paramedic arrived in a rapid response vehicle.

"I explained Mthuthuzeli had developed a severe headache which had worsened throughout the day. His neck was stiff and his limbs were sore.

"I remember that the paramedic took my husband's blood pressure before telling me my husband had man flu and didn't have to go to A&E.

"I was under the impression he thought my call had been a waste of time."

The inquest heard Mr Mpongwana had flu-like symptoms for 36 hours but felt pain while looking at light on January 5.

Ms Armitage said Noriega didn't check her husband's body for a rash, even though his skin was turning grey.

"I was asking the paramedic to call an ambulance because we had to go to the hospital," she added.

"I was getting increasingly agitated and frustrated that it was taking so long for the ambulance to arrive."

A post-mortem examination found the cause of Mr Mpongwana's death to be acute bacterial meningitis.

Mr Noriega, who no longer works for South Western Ambulance Service, said he was "exhausted" from working over the Christmas and New Year period.

He added that he should have administered penicillin and called for a priority one ambulance response sooner.

Dr Dan Freshwater-Turner, a consultant at Bristol Royal Infirmary, said: "We will always advise giving antibiotics as early as possible.

"It is possible if he had had treatment earlier that the outcome may have been different, but I cannot go any further."

The inquest is expected to conclude on Wednesday.