A Zambian student died after an ambulance crew refused to take her to hospital, it was claimed today. Sarah Mulenga, 21, who suffered from a blood disorder, was found collapsed in her bedroom by her landlady who dialled 999. When the crew arrived half an hour later, they allegedly left again without treating her.

An investigation by London Ambulance Service has been launched and the two employees have been taken off frontline duties.

Miss Mulenga, from Barking, was eventually taken to hospital after landlady Chinwe Moneke called for a second ambulance but she later died.

She suffered from sickle cell anaemia, a genetic blood condition which can restrict blood flow causing painful episodes which can be deadly.

Ms Moneke alleged the crew refused to touch Miss Mulenga because she had soiled herself. She first called an ambulance at 4.15pm on January 9 and put a second call in at 4.30 to say the business management student’s condition was worsening.

She made a third call at 4.47 to say that Miss Mulenga had sickle cell anaemia and was seriously ill. Two women ambulance workers arrived minutes later but, said Ms Moneke, they refused to treat their patient.

She said: “They did not check Sarah’s temperature nor her heartbeat, in fact they did not touch her at all.” Ms Moneke said one of them told the student: “If you want to be taken to hospital, then get up so we can take you.”

After they left, Ms Moneke, 35, said she cleaned her up. Minutes later Miss Mulenga’s sister arrived. By then the student was unresponsive so she called a second ambulance. The paramedics took Miss Mulenga to hospital but she died there the same evening. A cause of death has not yet been established.

The London Ambulance Service said: “We can confirm we twice attended an address in Barking. We are looking into what happened and have received a complaint about the incident