Firefighters lost vital minutes in their bid to save a dying man last night -- because the emergency call was made to a switchboard operator.

A 72-year-old Warwick man died of a heart attack after playing tennis near Port Royal Golf Course. Onlookers who saw him collapse immediately rang the alarm bells, but called the Fire Service switchboard instead of 911.

And a crew from Port Royal Fire Station, just a minute down the road, was dispatched minutes later than it could have been.

Fire officers are trained to deal with medical emergencies and crews carry equipment to help them save lives in a range of situations.

But the heart attack victim died in hospital -- after failed last-minute attempts to save his life by the crew which responded to the scene. A Fire Service insider said the drama, which unfolded shortly before 8 p.m., could have turned out with a happier ending.

"We need people to know that in an emergency, it's best to dial 911,'' he said. "Some people went down the road to fetch the boys from Port Royal. But if they'd called the emergency number, we could have got people there within a minute.'' He added: "We're not saying we definitely could have saved him but he would have stood a better chance if there was a crew there instantly.'' Emergencies should be dialled to 911, where Police, fire and ambulance can be reached.

Non-emergency calls to the Fire Service should be made to 292-5555.

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