AN inquest was dramatically halted after it was claimed a window cleaner fell off his ladder within 100 yards of Whitefield Ambulance Station, and it took an hour for a properly-equipped ambulance to arrive.

Carl Hibbert plunged 40ft from his ladder while cleaning the windows of a third-storey flat at Deborah Court in Clegg Street, Whitefield, on August 7 last year.

The 28-year-old father suffered a fractured skull, brain damage and internal bleeding, and died two days later at Salford's Hope Hospital.

The jury at Tuesday's (May 25) inquest in Bolton was discharged when Coroner Jennifer Leeming called for further inquiries after a pathologist revealed that there was a chance Mr Hibbert could have survived, had he been treated earlier.

The inquest was told it was 40 minutes before an ambulance arrived at the scene.

Witnesses said that when the ambulance did arrive, it was not equipped with a neck brace and a second vehicle had to be called. It was another 20 minutes before Mr Hibbert was transferred from the scene to North Manchester General Hospital.

Mr Hibbert, who lived in Bolton, had been a window cleaner for more than a year and had recently set up his own business.

Decorator Thomas Jenkinson was working at the flats when the accident happened and was the first to reach Mr Hibbert.

He said: "Carl was lying on the ground with the ladders resting on the porchway to the flats. I imagine he had probably over-stretched, causing the ladders to slide sideways."

He said that a paramedic from the ambulance station jumped over the fence to help, but that it was at least 40 minutes before an ambulance arrived and another 20-minute wait for the second ambulance.

The coroner said: "I am concerned about the time delay of the ambulance and feel it is my duty to investigate further."

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Ambulance Service said after the inquest was put off to a later date: "We are confused and perplexed at what we are hearing.

"As far as we are concerned, an ambulance paramedic was on the scene within two minutes of it happening and our ambulances were there within half the time that is stated."

Mr Hibbert's parents Anne Morrison (54) and Kevan Hibbert (60) are now taking care of his three-year-old son Luke. They described Carl as "a well-liked lad who would do anything for anyone" and he doted on his son. There were more than 1,000 people at his funeral.