NEGLECT by organisers of an athletics event in Trent Park contributed to the death of a 14-year-old girl, a coroner has ruled.

Andrew Walker ruled today that Shannon Powell would probably have survived but for a “significant delay” before she was taken to hospital after collapsing.

He pinned the blame on the organisers of the Middlesex Cross Country Championships on January 8, saying: “Had the event been properly planned and prepared, Shannon would not have died.”

Mr Walker's judgement highlighted locked emergency gates which stopped paramedics getting into the park with their ambulance, poor instructions to race marshalls what to do in an emergency, and a lack of thought on emergency procedures.

He said in a narrative verdict: “There was a significant delay in Shannon getting to hospital which caused her death in the sense that there was an opportunity for rendering care which if taken would have prevented the death.”

He went on: “Although the provision of first aid for the event had been considered, and a team of first aiders had been employed, little or no thought had been given to what should happen if an ambulance needed to attend a person at the event.

“All but one of the gates to the park were locked and there was a mistaken belief that all London Ambulance Service vehicles had keys they could use to unlock the gates.

“No risk assessment had taken place for the site for the provision for medical care. There were no clear details available to guide an ambulance to the correct gate.”

Paramedics who treated Northwood College pupil Shannon were criticised durng the hearing by Shannon's coaches and first aiders, for taking too long to reach the scene and initially refusing to carry the schoolgirl due to health and safety concerns.

However, Mr Walker acknowledged the ambulance could not have reach the scene any quicker given the information paramedics, and died not blame them for the neglect.

He indicated he will write a letter to UK Athletics calling for improvements to the way athletics events are organised, and will also recommend that 999 call operators tell the people phoning how long an ambulance is likely to take to reach them.