Roofer who was trapped in his car with a broken back after a car accident was left waiting for two and a half hours for an ambulance

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Agony: Roy Rathoor, 27, had to wait two-and-a-half hours for an ambulance to arrive after breaking his back in a car crash in Netherfield, Nottinghamshire

A roofer has spoken of his anger at being forced to wait two-and-a-half hours for an ambulance to arrive as he lay trapped and writhing in agony after breaking his back in a car crash.

Roy Rathoor, 27, was travelling home from work when his Vauxhall Tigra was involved in a collision with a Fiat Punto at 9.30pm on November 19.

He managed to dial 999 and call his partner Danielle Simpson, 27, as petrol began leaking from his smashed vehicle.

She and her father arrived at the scene in Netherfield, Nottinghamshire half an hour later, while the police got there in ten minutes.

But Mr Rathoor was left stuck in his car for a further two hours waiting for medical help.   

A rapid-response car, driven by a paramedic, eventually arrived at the scene at 11.45pm. That was followed by an ambulance which turned up 15 minutes later, two-and-a-half hours after the collision.

Mr Rathoor was freed from the car and lifted onto a spinal board before being taken to hospital where doctors found he had fractured his spine in two places.

The self-employed roofer is still bed-bound after the crash and could miss at least six months of work.

Today he slammed the ambulance service for leaving him waiting in agony.

Mr Rathoor, from Netherfield, said: 'My initial reaction was to switch the car off but I didn't really know what I could move at that time.

'The chap I crashed with asked if I could get out but, as I tried to lean forward to pull myself out, I realised there was something not quite right because of the amount of pain I was in.

'I thought that normally an ambulance would turn up at the scene quicker than the police.

'I didn't really know what to do or what was wrong with me, so I was in a bit of a panic.

'It was very cold but I don't think I realised how long I was inside the car waiting.'

He managed to dial 999 and call his partner Danielle Simpson (pictured) who drove to the scene of the crash

Response: Police arrived within ten minutes but Mr Rathoor was left stuck in his car (pictured), which was leaking petrol, waiting for medical help. An ambulance eventually turned up two-and-a-half hours later

He added: 'Being so close to the city centre I was expecting it to get there a lot quicker.

'I'm just grateful my injuries aren't as bad as some other people who have been in crashes.

'By the time I got to the hospital, I just couldn't believe the time.'

As well as the two spinal fractures, doctors at the Queen's Medical Centre told Mr Rathoor he had dislocated his shoulder and suffered whiplash.

He was kept in the hospital for three days and advised not to leave his house for at least six weeks.

Mr Rathoor added: 'I was sitting there in a lot of pain wondering if I was going to be all right.

In pain: As well as the two spinal fractures, doctors at the Queen's Medical Centre told Mr Rathoor he had dislocated his shoulder and suffered whiplash

'It was a big worry considering there was no ambulance.

'I'm just disappointed that budget cuts have affected the service so badly.'

His partner Danielle, who has a five-year-old daughter, said five calls were made to the ambulance service from police officers and people at the scene while they waited.

She added: 'It's just ridiculous. He couldn't move his neck or body and we didn't know what was wrong with him.

'The petrol tank was leaking, which could have made it even more dangerous.

'The paramedics who turned up were second to none in the care they provided but the response time was third world.

'I know they've had cutbacks but this is dicing with people's lives.

'If he'd just had a bump, then I could understand it more but this was a spinal injury and no one knew how serious it was.'

East Midlands Ambulance Service has now apologised to Mr Rathoor for the delay and claimed it was under 'severe pressure from other 999 calls' at the time.

A spokesman for the service, which failed to hit every response time target in September and October, said an investigation had been launched.

He added: 'As with all UK ambulance services, we have been experiencing a significant and sustained increase in demand and are responding to thousands more emergencies than in previous years.

'I can confirm this emergency was received at a time when we were under severe pressure from other 999 calls and we are very sorry we weren't able to respond much quicker than we did.

'We have now launched an investigation into the full circumstances and will provide Roy and Danielle with a detailed account of our findings as soon as the facts are known.'

A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Police confirmed officers attended the crash and were at the scene until about 12.30am to manage road closures.