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The two paramedics found guilty of failing to provide "reasonable" care to a man who later died have thanked the public for giving them the "emotional strength to try again" ahead of their appeal hearing this week.
Following a trial in the Royal Court earlier this year, ambulance workers Tom Le Sauteur (36) and John Sutherland (60) were convicted of a health and safety breach in relation to their response to a 39-year-old man who had called an ambulance when he was suffering the effects of an overdose.
On the day of their sentencing to a two-year conditional discharge in July, the pair confirmed their intention to "fight" the conviction.
They are set appear in the Court of Appeal this week.
Pictured: A fundraiser set up in support of the paramedics raised over £48,000.
Over 1,000 people back a fundraising effort to support the pair with the costs of legal representation. The total on their JustGiving page at the time of writing stands at more than £48,000.
Ahead of the hearing – which starts today and is scheduled to run until Wednesday – Le Sauteur spoke to Express about how the public support inspired them to appeal.
He said: “From a practical point of view, this fundraiser has funded our appeal. Without it, we wouldn't have been able to appeal.
“In terms of the emotional support – I can't speak for John – but I don't think we'd have the strength and the courage to go back into that arena, because it's not one we're particularly comfortable in.
“The support that the public of Jersey has given us, that courage to re-enter it and try again, basically.
“We couldn't do it without the fundraising and the kindness that's been shown to give us the emotional strength to try again.”
Pictured: Attendees at a protest outside Ambulance HQ following the trial in June, holding signs saying "protect our emergency services".
Some said the case has raised questions about the conditions paramedics are operating under and Express revealed that there had been seven recorded "safety events" this year alone, with some causing "moderate physical harm" to staff, though Ambulance Chief Peter Gavey said the service took a "zero-tolerance" approach. Ambulance members of Unite have however supported a vote of no confidence in senior management, and the union has also called for a full judicial review of the case.
Family and friends of the man who passed away in Le Sauteur and Sutherland's care, Frazer Irvine, said they were uncomfortable with how the case panned out and the resulting response in the community. His mother said in a statement that it sometimes felt her son was "on trial".
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