A PENSIONER was forced to make his own way to hospital when an ambulance failed to turn up more than an hour after he collapsed with severe chest pains.

The 91-year-old great-grandad was leaving Southbourne Sports Club, Dean's Road, when he toppled down the stairs, clutching his chest and vomiting.

His friends immediately called 999 to help the former Merchant Navy seaman.

However, despite their first call at 11.02pm and two follow up calls, paramedics did not turn up.

In desperation, they searched the pensioner’s phone for his son’s number who took him to Royal Bournemouth Hospital emergency department.

The pensioner arrived at 12.30am – 90 minutes after he collapsed, where he was given morphine for the pain.

He remains in hospital after suffering a ruptured aorta.

Last night the ambulance response was branded as ‘shameful.’ Treasurer of the club Chris McCarthy, 73, a retired electrician, who has known the man for more than 30 years, said: “Everyone was very concerned. He was in a very bad way, clutching his chest in severe pain and very uncomfortable.

"Nobody knew what was happening and thought that was it. None of his friends left his side, thinking any minute the ambulance would arrive but it just didn’t.

"It was like they had forgotten about him. Despite more or less begging, the control centre could give no assurances when an ambulance would arrive. It was a worry for his life.

“He is in a very bad way. He’s a very kind unassuming man who served in the Merchant Navy and travelled the world. To think this could happen in Bournemouth in 2016 is shameful.

“Most electricians or plumbers would be able to come out within that time in an emergency, but this is somebody’s life we are talking about.

“For an ambulance not to turn up is disgusting. Never in a million years should that happen.”

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service said: “We would like to apologise to the patient and his family for the delay in responding and are looking into the matter further. A total of three 999 calls were made to us on the evening of Friday 12 August, reporting that an elderly man was experiencing chest pain.

"The first call was made at 2302 and the last call at 2359. It was during the third call we were advised that a member of the patient’s family was taking him to hospital. If the patient or his family would like to discuss this further we would encourage them to contact our patient experience team.”