SOUTH Western Ambulance Service has explained why it took half an hour for paramedics to arrive at the scene of a serious motorcycle crash when there was an ambulance station less than a mile away.

A 69-year-old man from Corfe Mullen had to be airlifted to hospital after suffering serious leg injuries when his motorcycle hit Julians Bridge in Wimborne on Sunday morning.

Peter Smith-Nicholls, organiser of the Macmillan Dorset Bike Ride, came across the casualty shortly after the crash and stopped to help.

While waiting for paramedics to arrive, a frustrated Peter cycled to Wimborne Ambulance Station to get help.

Staff at the station made enquiries and said an ambulance was on its way, but when Peter arrived back at the scene an ambulance did not appear for another 10 minutes. He said: “I arrived shortly after the accident happened – the poor chap was lying in the middle of the road, and a couple of ladies were there comforting him and keeping him warm.

“Another biker, whom I believe was the man’s brother, was calling for an ambulance. Everyone was doing all they could, but the man needed urgent medical help. I cycled to the ambulance station and was told an ambulance was on its way.

“When I got back to the bridge, we still had to wait another 10 minutes before the ambulance arrived.

“I don’t blame the emergency services staff involved, but I was surprised there were ambulances three minutes down the road, and yet it took half an hour for one to arrive.”

He added: “Myself and another lady were directing traffic away from the bridge before the police arrived to close the road.”

The motorcyclist, who was riding a black Kawasaki bike, was later airlifted to Southampton General Hospital where police said he remains in a serious condition.

“If that was me lying on the road in that condition, I would have expected a better service,” Peter said.

A spokesman for SWASFT said: “We received the initial call in relation to this incident at 9.39am, advising that a rider had come off his motorbike, sustained leg injuries and was conscious and breathing.

“In line with what we tell every caller to do if a patient’s condition changes or worsens, a further call was made at 9.59am confirming that the patient had worsened.

“The call was upgraded accordingly and an ambulance arrived at the scene five minutes later. The second caller was uncooperative, and it was not easy to conduct a thorough triage process. The patient was treated at the scene before being flown to Southampton General Hospital.”