MIAMI BEACH, FL -- A Venetian Islands resident says her husband died after waiting more than 30 minutes for first responders to arrive after her 911 call.
The nearest Miami Beach Fire Rescue station is just two miles from the couple's home, according to CBS Miami.
The Miami Herald reports the woman wrote in an email to neighbors that she called 911 at 9:05 a.m. on March 5 after finding her husband, who had diabetes and Crohn's disease, on the floor but "coherent and talking."
A police report report shows the fire department was dispatched seven minutes after the call at 9:12 a.m., but didn't arrive until 9:36 a.m. -- 31 minutes later. The man was pronounced dead at 9:39 a.m., the Herald reports.
"Two terrific [police] officers stayed with me for hours," the woman wrote. "When they checked the time of my original call to 911 and what followed, they were appalled. They asked the rescue men what took so long... and were told, they were stuck for a bridge!"
Fire Captain Garcia told the Herald that emergency dispatchers regularly communicate with drawbridge operators so that emergency vehicles can quickly respond to calls.
An investigation into what exactly caused the delay is underway.
"I certainly am dumbfounded," said Miami Beach Commissioner Edward Tobin. "At the appropriate time, if it warrants it, there's going to be some severe consequences."