HOUSTON – Houston Fire Department paramedics, dealing with a broken-down ambulance during an emergency, rolled a child with cardiac problems on a gurney for two blocks on Wednesday night to get to Texas Children's Hospital.
"Lost all power, had to push the stretcher and a working pediatric cardiac arrest two blocks down Fannin to Texas Children's Hospital," the paramedic wrote on Facebook.
The child's condition was improving as the group arrived at the hospital, a source told KPRC on Thursday.
Channel 2 Investigates has repeatedly studied the city of Houston's issue with aging and broken firetrucks and ambulances.
One of the paramedics involved in Wednesday night's incident noted on his Facebook page that city maintenance officials had been informed of the failing ambulance earlier in the day:
"(The) check engine light has been on for sometime... shop has advised... to ignore it, diagnosing it as 'probably just the gas cap.'"
Two separate sources said on Thursday that the Paramedic who posted the event on Facebook was advised to remove it and it is now the subject of a formal complaint.
"These guys were heroes, doing everything they can to save this kid," Patrick Lancton, president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association said.
The mayor's office responded to our request for more information about the incident and the state of Houston's emergency equipment with the unedited note below:
"The mayor is concerned about the safety of, and the equipment used by, all first responders and all other city employees, and for the safety of all Houstonians, including the person being transported today.
"The ambulance, a 2013 Chevrolet, encountered a radiator hose break.
"The city is prioritizing fire department apparatus purchases, starting with the $18 million in recently approved by mayor and council and the potential $53 million in proposed bonds on the November ballot.
"With the storm approaching, the mayor hopes that everyone involved with these issues joins him in concentrating on the immediate plan to prevent loss of life."