NORTHWOOD schoolgirl Shannon Powell died because of a delay in getting her to hospital, a coroner has ruled.

The 14-year-old, a pupil at Northwood College, Maxwell Road, Northwood, died after collapsing during a cross country race in Trent Park, North London, on January 8.

An inquest at North London Coroners Court heard that it took 30 minutes for paramedics to reach her after they were sent to the wrong address, could not find the gates and when they did discovered they were locked.

She was taken to Chase Farm Hospital, where she was later declared dead.

A post mortem revealed she had a heart condition.  

Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Andrew Walker said that there was lack of thought by organisers on what to do during emergency procedures.

He will write a letter to UK Athletics calling for improvements to the way athletics events are organised, as well as giving recommendations on the information given by 999 call operators about arrival times.

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