A coroner is investigating a man's death while he waited hours for an ambulance, as his grieving family comes to terms with revelations about the tragic delay.
Paramedics found Nick Bradford, 51, dead inside his Annerley home in Brisbane's south after midnight last Sunday.
The civil draftsman had called triple zero more than two hours earlier complaining of chest pains.
He lived a short distance from Princess Alexandra Hospital, prompting Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) to ask if he could transport himself. He declined, citing his condition.
The community has been increasingly concerned about delays in the state's ambulance services. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
"He did what he should have, and it still didn't make any difference ... that's the part that really upsets me," Nick's brother, Daniel Bradford, told AAP.
Nick wasn't taking any medication, and didn't have any diagnosed health conditions before his death, Daniel said.
The family's grief was compounded after they were initially told an ambulance arrived at Nick's home within minutes of him calling emergency services.
"I thought that it was a really sudden, catastrophic event where he didn't suffer," Daniel said.
"But now it's just upsetting ... knowing that there's a possibility that he was in fear and desperate for help, and there was no one coming."
Health Minister Tim Nicholls on Friday issued a public apology to the Bradford family, confirming they found out about delays to Nick's care through news reports on Thursday.
Mr Nicholls said he was first notified of the man's death on Monday but did not have any family contact details.
"I don't really need to talk to politicians,'' Daniel said.
''I'm just more interested in them actually trying to remedy what the issues are."
Health Minister Tim Nicholls has issued a public apology to the Bradford family. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
Delays in the state's ambulance services are causing concerns in the community.
According to the latest figures from Queensland health, ambulance ramping sits at 42 per cent, meaning 42 per cent of patients who arrive at hospital by ambulance are waiting on a stretcher for more than 30 minutes.
That number is about two per cent better than when the Crisafulli Government assumed office in October 2024, according to the Queensland Audit Office.
The state aims to have 90 per cent of patients transferred off a stretcher within half an hour.
On Tuesday afternoon, another man - aged in his 80s - died shortly after being admitted to the Mater Hospital following a three-hour wait.
Mr Nicholls said both cases would be the subject of critical incident reviews.
"Quite obviously, it's unacceptable for someone to have to wait for that period of time," he said.
"I make no excuse ... It's important that we carry out a proper review, so that we understand what went wrong and put in place the measures necessary to fix it."
Daniel said the coroner's registry contacted the Bradford family on Friday to inform them an investigation into Nick's death will start next week.
The Coroners Court of Queensland spokesperson confirmed the death has been reported to the court and is under investigation.
Nick's family and friends will don their favourite band shirts in tribute to the music lover when his life is celebrated in a service in November.
"He was mischievous, he was curious about everything within life," Daniel said.
"He was a real people person.
"He shared his love with everyone he knew and everybody loved being around him because he was such a character."
SOURCE/AUTHOR : AAP NEWS/Andrew Stafford and Eleanor Wilson in Melbourne
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