Tragedy in Montpellier: a 25-year-old woman dies of acute meningitis after unsuccessful calls to Samu

On October 15, a 25-year-old woman tragically lost her life as a result of acute meningitis, despite several unsuccessful calls to the Samu for help. Her grief-stricken friends remember that fateful day when their friend called them for help.

A call for help ignored

In a critical condition, the victim contacted one of her friends, reporting that she had been vomiting all night and was feeling very achy. Faced with her distress, her friend didn’t hesitate to alert the ambulance service and fire department. However, despite three calls, no ambulance was dispatched, leaving the young woman’s friend feeling helpless, convinced that her suffering was not being taken seriously.

The tragic road to hospital

Just over an hour and a half after their first request for assistance, the friends managed to find transport to the emergency room. Unfortunately, they didn’t arrive in time. “We were two or three minutes from the hospital when her heart stopped beating. She died in the car, in our presence”, recalls a friend, her heart heavy with grief.

Investigation opened and complaint lodged

This tragedy raises questions about the functioning of the Samu dispatch center. As a result, the parents of the deceased have decided to lodge a complaint, seeking clarification of the circumstances surrounding their daughter’s death. Montpellier University Hospital has announced its commitment to providing information on the case. The investigation led by the Montpellier public prosecutor’s office will also examine the recordings of exchanges with Samu operators, in the hope of understanding what led to this tragedy.