Published: Sunday, 24th January, 2010 12:00pm

Popular man dies despite efforts of air ambulance

by Rose Harland

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Race against time: The air ambulance rushes James Whitwood to Wexham Park Hospital but he was certified dead shortly after his arrival.

TRIBUTES have been paid to a "wonderful" man who died despite being airlifted to hospital.

James Whitwood, 75, suffered a pulmonary embolism - a blocked artery - at home in Harmans Water.

A relative who spoke to him raised the alarm and he was taken by road ambulance through the snow to a Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust helicopter in Calfridus Park.

He was airlifted to Wexham Park Hospital but was certified dead shortly after arriving at around 11am on Sunday, January 10.

Mr Whitwood leaves wife Irene, who lives in a Sandhurst care home, and their only child James Whitwood, who said: "He doted on my mum."

James, 49, a management accountant who lives in Brackley, Northamptonshire, said: "All the neighbours have said, and even the carers at the home, what a wonderful man he was. I have not heard a bad word against him."

From 1952-60 Mr Whitwood was an air wireless mechanic in the RAF and later worked as a purchasing manager for Plessey Electronics in Taplow.

He was married to Irene since 1958 and helped her with arrangements for Harmans Water Women's Institute before she moved into the care home in the summer.

Mr Whitwood enjoyed reading and was also a familiar sight to neighbours in Lowbury as he tended his garden.

Neighbour Tony Greeves, 70, said: "They were lovely neighbours and it was such a shock."

Mr Greeves' partner Maureen Parker, 74, said Mr Whitwood would always offer to help if they needed anything and added: "He was a really good neighbour to us."

Mr Whitwood had suffered a heart attack three years ago and had been unwell for a week before his death but told neighbours who visited him and family that he was managing.

Neighbour Amanda Brackstone, 42, who helped with his shopping, said: "He was a really kind, caring man. He was a real gentleman.

"He was a proud man and very independent."

Her husband Mark, 41, added that Mr and Mrs Whitwood would give ice cream money to the Brackstone's children for holidays and said: "That is the kind of couple they were."