A 97-year-old woman died after reportedly being told she would have to wait 10 days for an ambulance to treat a suspected broken hip — a delay that has now sparked serious questions.
Babette Burge was found on the floor of her home in Newport on the Isle of Wight, UK on Oct. 19, 2025, after suffering another fall while awaiting transport to the hospital.
Just five days earlier, a paramedic from a local doctor’s office had examined Burge at home and reportedly found her leg was “shortened and rotated,” a classic sign of a fractured hip. She was told she would need to wait 10 days for an ambulance to take her to St. Mary’s Hospital.
Before that transfer could happen, Burge fell again.
Her caregiver later discovered her on the floor struggling to breathe. She died shortly before 1 p.m. that same day.
An inquest hearing determined her official cause of death was pneumonia, with immobility and a left femoral fracture listed as contributing factors.
It was also revealed in court that mottling — discoloration of the skin often linked to reduced blood flow, cold exposure, or circulation issues — was observed on her body.
Coroner Caroline Sumeray expressed condolences to Burge’s family and scheduled a full inquest for Aug. 12. The upcoming hearing is expected to examine the ambulance delay and the care she received after her fall.
She was killed!