Strictly Come Dancing champion Rose Ayling-Ellis has answered back to 'upsetting' comments over the tragic case of a deaf widow calling for changes after paramedics were unable to tell her that her husband had died. Elizabeth Corbett, from Derby, was at work when she received a distressed video call from her young children to say her husband David, 51, had fallen ill.
When she got home, paramedics had arrived but could not explain to Mrs Corbett what had happened, and she says the emergency services wouldn't let her in the house because she couldn't explain who she was. Mrs Corbett, 43, eventually learned of her husband's death from a fatal heart attack via a FaceTime call to her employer. The receptionist spoke to the paramedics who told her that David had died.
East Midlands Ambulance Service has said it is "deeply sorry" for the experience and has offered its condolences to the family. Mrs Corbett, who was born without hearing, is now calling for all emergency workers to have sign language training and a fully charged iPad so that they can instantly connect to a qualified interpreter.
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Addressing some of the cruel remarks in response to the story, Rose said on Twitter: “Some of the comment is quite upsetting. I just want to break it down as simply as possible. ‘Why can’t the children tell the mother?’ No child should ever do this.
“’Why can’t they just write it down?’ imagine going through the most traumatic time of your life, you need someone there you can access in the full language. Not writing backwards and forwards.
"'Oh, so paramedics must be able to learn to speak in different languages now?’ It is BRITISH sign language. Paramedics are already overwhelmed with the amazing work they do. They should have been given the right tools and support to be able to communicate with this lady.
"For example, paramedics having emergency interpreters on iPads ready on call for this situation. And, basic BSL to be able to pick up quickly what this lady was trying to communicate with them. “’Let’s be realistic here…’ No, let me be realistic here. We pay our taxes too, we have every right to receive the same care.”
Rose, 28, played Frankie Carter in the BBC One soap EastEnders until September last year. She won hearts and broke down barriers during her triumphant run on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 with dance partner Giovanni Pernice.
The actress was the first deaf contestant to take part in BBC dance competition. Their powerful silent dance routine during one episode won the must-see moment award at the BAFTA TV awards.
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