A 51-year-old man was in the back of an ambulance for nearly seven hours outside a hospital before he died, a coroner has said.  

Lee Kilby had been taken to Peterborough City Hospital after becoming unresponsive while out swimming on September 26, 2022.  

His friend managed to pull him out of the water and while unresponsive initially, Mr Kilby regained consciousness following a short amount of CPR.  

Paramedics attended the scene and took him to Peterborough City Hospital. 

At the brief hearing to open the inquest, Caroline Jones, an area coroner for Cambridgeshire at Peterborough, said: “[Mr Kilby] arrived at 2119 hrs but remained in the back of the ambulance for care until 0400 hrs on September 27.

“At this time, he became unresponsive following a suspected seizure and was taken off the ambulance to the resuscitation department.   

“He was treated and went into cardiac arrest following 90 minutes of CPR and sadly declared deceased at 0640 hrs on September 27.” 

A provisional cause of death was given as a heart attack and heart-related conditions.  

It was not revealed where he was swimming when he initially became unresponsive.

Ms Jones said: “Following further investigation by my office the inquest has been opened due to the protracted time that Mr Kilby remained in the ambulance upon arrival at Peterborough City Hospital.” 

She adjourned the matter for a hearing on a date to be fixed. 

Mr Kilby's inquest opening was held on May 2, 2024, at Lawrence Court, in Huntingdon.