Southampton, UK, January 15, 2008 - A MAN made three calls to the emergency services after he was assaulted but when ambulance staff arrived he turned down their help, an inquest was told.

Shortly afterwards Ali Farah Bullaleh collapsed in Bevois Valley Road, Southampton, and was hit by a taxi causing him to suffer fatal injuries.

On the first day of a five-day inquest into the death of the 41-year-old Somali national, who had been living in Southampton, CCTV images were shown tracing his movements during the early hours of November 12, 2006.

He was seen leaving The Dungeon Nightclub in Bevois Valley before he was assaulted outside.

The 999 call Mr Bullaleh made afterwards at 2.26am was played back to Southampton Coroner's Court.

At 2.41am Mr Bullaleh made another call in which he said that he had already called 999 but no one had turned up.

Again at 2.45am Mr Bullaleh dialled 999 for help and told the operator that he was still waiting in Mount Pleasant Road for help.

Michael Brown, the ambulance technician who attended the scene at 3.03am described Mr Bulleleh as being "very abusive."

A decision was taken that no medical treatment was necessary and the police would take over.

Paramedic Shaun Prewett said that he believed that Mr Bullaleh had been under the influence of alcohol, but did not need any hospital treatment.

He said that in this case "the duty of care" passed over to the police when they said the ambulance crew could "stand down".

Source: Daily Echo