Rochester Mayor Malik Evans has called for a full investigation into a distressing incident that occurred on November 30 on Seneca Avenue, where a man suffering from a medical crisis was asked to leave an ambulance and later tragically passed away. The mayor held a press conference on Thursday, shedding light on the incident, and the city subsequently released a video capturing the distressing chain of events.

The video footage reveals the man, who was struggling to breathe, being asked by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to exit the ambulance and wait for another to arrive and transport him to the hospital. "I don't know what's wrong with him, but he will not get out of the truck - and he's got to go," an EMT can be heard telling an officer in the video.

According to one of the EMTs, the patient allegedly grabbed her and refused to let go when she attempted to assist him, prompting the request for him to exit the ambulance. The man, clearly distressed, told the officer that he couldn't breathe, further explaining, "I was freaking out. You would freak out too if you can't breathe." The officer acknowledged his concerns but also advised the man to control himself better in the situation.

Tragically, after exiting the ambulance, the man collapsed on the sidewalk and waited for over two minutes before receiving medical assistance. Mayor Evans revealed that the man passed away shortly before Christmas, expressing shock and disbelief upon learning about the incident only on Tuesday.

In response to the distressing turn of events, Mayor Evans has called for an internal investigation by American Medical Response (AMR), the ambulance provider involved in the incident. He emphasized the importance of reflecting on the incident to ensure better ambulance services for the community. "City residents are people, and they deserve to be treated humanely and with the same attention as anyone else," stated Mayor Evans during the press conference.

The police were called to the scene to address an alleged assault against an EMT, and officers were present when the man collapsed on the sidewalk. Rochester Police Chief David Smith has also joined Mayor Evans in calling for an internal investigation to examine why the police were summoned and why the patient in distress was not taken directly to the hospital.

Apologizing for the heartbreaking incident, AMR has committed to conducting a thorough investigation to determine the reasons behind the incident, address any gaps in the care provided, and implement necessary improvements to prevent a recurrence. 13WHAM has reached out to AMR for further comment but has not received a response at the time of writing.

Mayor Evans emphasized the urgency of getting to the bottom of the incident, understanding its causes, and establishing proper protocols and safeguards to prevent such occurrences in the future. The community expects answers and assurances that incidents like this are not repeated, ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents during medical emergencies.