PCA Report paragraphs 215-218. Title from David and Goliath p208.

215. Mr Karam contends that one of the ambulance officers reported David had been unconscious for about three minutes [which could account for memory loss] and he is critical this point was not checked out by the Police during the original investigation. The failure to properly explore this issue, he claims, operated to the disadvantage of David Bain and again demonstrates the disinclination of the Police to pursue matters which did not support their theory.

216. In fact, the reference to three minutes unconsciousness was made in a report created by Ambulance Officer Jan Scott who arrived at the scene at 0750 hours to take over from the night shift ambulance officers caring for David. In subsequently reporting her involvement in the case she filled out a pro forma report which invited information about the patient being unconscious. Because she believed a Police officer at the scene had told her David was unconscious for about three minutes. She noted this detail in the space provided on the form.

217. Constable Andrew, the officer with David at the relevant time has been interviewed. He is adamant David was not unconscious at any stage. Ambulance Officer Anderson believed that at one stage David feigned he was having a fit and Chief Ambulance Officer Wombwell described him as being "light" at some point. This is international medical emergency terminology referring to a person who is virtually awake and who responds to voice but who has his eyes closed. The question of whether David was conscious or unconscious while being attended by the police and ambulance officers before removal from the house was thoroughly examined by defence counsel at the trial. Ambulance Officer Anderson tested David's consciousness by touching his eyelashes, which caused David to move his eyes - this reaction only happens with a conscious patient and is quite involuntary.  In Anderson's statement to the review team he said, " ... That is standard practice we use for checking those patients who are foxing us or just choosing not to speak to us or react to us". Mr Anderson also noted that David responded to the dog when it barked.

218. In short, no one saw David unconscious. The only suggestion of it comes from a report where details have been recorded by one person on the basis of what she thought she was told by another.