A woman who weighed 20 stone died after she was forced to lie on the floor for three hours while waiting for an ambulance to arrive because special equipment was needed to lift her.

Barbara Williams, 54, died at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Rhyl, North Wales, after lying in agony on the floor for hours as her distraught family tried to comfort her.

Her family say she told them she 'wished she was dead' as she suffered the humiliating ordeal.

Barbara Williams, 54, (pictured) who weighed 20 stone, died at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Rhyl, North Wales, after lying in agony on the floor for three hours as her distraught family tried to comfort her

Ms Williams, who had an enlarged heart and a hernia that needed operating on, was asthmatic and had been in ill-health for several years.

When her brother Robert Williams called for an ambulance at around 5.10pm on June 17 this year, a first responder arrived at the Colwyn Bay home just 30 minutes later.

But Mr Williams, 59, claims the paramedic couldn't lift his sister and instead had to ring for back-up with special lifting gear.

When the ambulance finally arrived at around 8.30pm, he claims there was no explanation as to why it had taken so long.

Ms Williams' brother Robert (pictured with wife Sandra) said the experience 'humiliated' his sister

He said: 'I knew she was desperately ill when I saw her, she was just lying on the floor shaking uncontrollably and I thought she was having a stroke.

'I was frantic as I couldn't lift her as she weighed 20 stone, so all I could do was hold her hand and tell her an ambulance was on its way.

'She needed help quickly, and all that turned up after waiting for 30 minutes was an emergency vehicle from the Welsh Ambulance Service.

'But the paramedic couldn't do anything to help as he also couldn't lift her.'

He said the ordeal had been 'humiliating' for his sister, and claimed the first responder did not even offer her a blanket despite her uncontrollable shaking as she lay on the floor.

Ms Williams was eventually taken to Glan Clwyd that night but she died the next day after slipping into a coma.

Mr Williams claims they were given no explanation why it took three hours for his sister to be taken to hospital

Mr Williams added: 'Barbara died of heart failure and respiratory problems but I just don't think it helped lying on a damp floor for three hours.

'I felt so desperate sat there holding her hand, it was humiliating for her, it dehumanised her.

'My sister was a lovely woman who would have done anything for anyone; she deserved more than this.

'One of the last things she said to me, when lying there, was she wished she was dead.'

He said he has written a letter to the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust to ask why the ambulance took so long to arrive.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said it would investigate the claims and offered its sympathies to the family.

Sonia Thompson, Welsh Ambulance head of operations, said: 'We would like to extend our thoughts and deepest sympathies to the family of the late Miss Williams at this difficult time.

'We haven't heard from Miss Williams's family directly but we would encourage them to get in touch so we can answer any questions they may have and investigate their concerns fully.'

A Welsh Ambulance spokesman added: 'It was necessary to wait for professional back-up and equipment in order to move Miss Williams.'

Meanwhile, David Jones, MP for Clwyd West, has demanded answers as to why it took so long to reach Ms Williams.

Mr Jones said: 'A full investigation should be launched into this tragic case.

'It's outrageous that Miss Williams had to lie on a floor for three hours after the first responder called for an ambulance.

'It's unacceptable that something like this should happen in a modern Western European country.'

He added: 'This is not the first such case. The Welsh Ambulance Service is completely dysfunctional.

'I am going to go and see Miss Williams's brother myself. The family deserve to know what happened, what went wrong and an apology.

'Giving out a bland statement like "our thoughts are with the family" is frankly inadequate.'

The Welsh government chose not to respond to Mr Jones' calls for an inquiry.