Hospitals turn away dying man

A 34-year-old man allegedly strangled the old man and also bit him several times on the stomach.

A 34-year-old man allegedly strangled the old man and also bit him several times on the stomach.

Published Jul 5, 2012

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A Pretoria heart attack victim died after being turned away by at least six private hospitals, Beeld newspaper reported on Thursday.

Jan Faber, 66, died in theatre at the Unitas Hospital, in Centurion - the seventh hospital approached to take him.

His wife, San Faber, 62, told the newspaper he had a heart attack at their home in Mountainview at around 2am on Tuesday.

She called Netcare 911, an ambulance arrived at their home within eight minutes, and paramedics stabilised him.

The paramedics then contacted the Eugene Marais, Akasia, Moot and Bougainville hospitals, only to be told that they were not accepting patients.

Beeld reported that it was thought this was because their intensive care units were full.

Faber was also rejected by the Montana and Wilgers hospitals.

Just after 4am, the ambulance was accepted at Unitas Hospital and Faber was rushed to theatre, but he died just after 7am.

According to the newspaper, Netcare and the Life Hospital group said they were investigating. - Sapa

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