Key Facts
• January 2025: Gifu City Fire Department received a 911 call about a homeless man.
• Caller reported the man was unresponsive and not moving his limbs.
• Dispatch operator deemed ambulance necessary, but another dismissed it as “just sleeping.”
• Supervisor misunderstood the situation as a non-emergency and delayed action.
• The man was confirmed dead the following day, January 14, 2025.
• Third-party report in August 2025 deemed the response “inappropriate.”
• Root causes: lack of emergency response manuals and insufficient staff training.
• Similar case in Shizuoka: a family requested a silent ambulance, delaying response.
• Shizuoka man died after a 5.5-hour delay in emergency transport.
• Nationwide, emergency calls reached a record 7.71 million in 2024.
• Experts stress the need for better training and public awareness of emergency protocols.
Summary
In January 2025, a homeless man in Gifu died after emergency services failed to dispatch an ambulance despite a 911 call reporting his unresponsiveness. Miscommunication and inadequate protocols led to the delay. A similar incident in Shizuoka involved a family’s request for a silent ambulance, resulting in a fatal delay. Both cases highlight systemic issues, including insufficient training and unclear guidelines for emergency responders. Experts urge improved manuals, staff education, and public awareness to prevent future tragedies. Nationwide emergency calls hit a record 7.71 million in 2024, underscoring the need for efficient response systems.
