An ambulance service and NHS trust have acknowledged a failure in their duty of care regarding the death of Ebow Graham, a founding member of the hip-hop group Foreign Beggars.
Graham, who was 40 years old, died after falling from a third-story window in Clapton, east London in April 2020, following a psychotic episode. Prior to the incident, paramedics and an East London NHS trust crisis call handler did not properly address concerns about his behavior and did not arrange for a timely mental health assessment.
Both entities have now settled with Graham’s former partner, Francesca Macri, for an undisclosed amount.
Graham’s friends initially sounded the alarm on the day of his death and paramedics were called to the scene. However, Macri alleges that they were dismissive and ignored what Graham’s friends were saying about his situation.
A report by the London ambulance service acknowledged that they did not follow appropriate protocols and failed to consult the mental health team.
Later calls to the mental health crisis team did not result in an urgent assessment within the recommended four-hour window, instead offering an appointment the following morning.
Distraught, his friends took him to the hospital but ultimately brought him back home due to his agitated state. They made additional emergency calls to express their concerns about his condition.
In the early hours of the next morning, they made a final call after Graham fell out of a window. He suffered injuries and a cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital and died upon arrival.
The East London NHS foundation trust admitted to shortcomings in their handling of the crisis team call.
Macri is particularly critical of the ambulance team, questioning whether race played a role in their treatment of Graham. She also called for better and more timely mental health care.
The London ambulance service expressed their condolences and acknowledged that they should have sought mental health advice regarding Graham’s capacity for treatment. They refuted claims of race profiling and said there have been significant improvements and learning from the case.
