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A paramedic has launched a nationwide campaign to lower the retirement age for ambulance workers following the death of his colleague weeks after he stopped working.

Some 200,000 people have signed a petition calling for the move to bring the retirement age of ambulance staff into line with other emergency workers. It was expected to be presented to Health Secretary Matt Hancock today.

Matt Fisher, 52, started the petition to lower the retirement age from 67 to 60 after his colleague Ian Canning died aged 63, just weeks into retirement.

The grandfather-of-nine was an incident response officer who spent nearly 40 years in the ambulance service and attended both the Grenfell Tower fire and the 7/7 bombings.

Mr Canning, who had high blood pressure, died from a bleed on the brain triggered by an aneurysm, in June — a few weeks before the birth of his first great-grandchild Theo.

Despite shifting rotas, carrying patients and attending traumatic incidents, ambulance workers typically retire seven years later than other ­emergency workers.

Mr Fisher, a paramedic team leader with the London Ambulance Service, said: “Ian didn’t get to enjoy any of his retirement — just three weeks after his last shift he was dead.”

Mr Canning’s daughter Lisa Laker, 43, from Mitcham, who works in a school supporting children with emotional problems, said: “Saving lives was the be-all and end-all for my dad — he dedicated his life to it. But the job is mentally and physically demanding.

“My dad didn’t get quality time with his family when he was alive, and sadly didn’t have that in his short retirement.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “Our heroic paramedics play a vital role in our NHS, working tirelessly to support patients and they rightly have access to a range of flexible retirement options including taking their pension early.

“The NHS is currently working with a range of organisations, including ambulance staff, to look at how employees can be better supported throughout their careers.”