Two ambulance staff have been suspended over claims a man died at home just minutes after a 999 crew left.

Health bosses have launched an investigation after the sudden death of 38-year-old Mike Bradford.

His brother Chris claims that Mike died about ten or 15 minutes after an ambulance crew which had been called out to his home left.

He said they had advised him to see his doctor the following day.

Mr Bradford said that Mike had gone to bed feeling unwell after the ambulance crew left his home in Sycamore Close, Portslade, which he shared with his partner Diane.

But a few minutes later, he suffered a fatal heart attack, his brother said, and a second ambulance crew was called out.

A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust (Secamb) confirmed that “staff involved in this incident” have been suspended and that an investigation has been launched.

Sussex Police said that Mr Bradford died of “natural causes”.

Mr Bradford said: “The whole family is devastated by his death - he was a big man and a big character with loads of friends.

“He was the life and soul of the family, he always broke the ice by telling a joke and having a laugh.”

He said that his family - parents Janet and Colin, an organiser with Moulsecoomb Family Fun Day for 25 years, and sister Sheena - are “in bits” after Mike's sudden death on June 14. Mike's partner Diane, who he had been due to marry on July 9, has been left “an emotional wreck”, Mr Bradford said. Mr Bradford, a salesman who lives in Horsham, was away on a business trip in South America when he received a call from his sister that his brother had died. He immediately cut his trip short and flew home.

He said: “I last saw Mike about ten days before he died.

“He hadn't been ill. We were close – I was going to be his best man at his wedding. He was my daughter's godfather.” Mr Bradford said that his brother, a hotel chef, hadn't worked for about 15 years because of stress related to his job but he had an active social life. He said: “He had lots of friends and he never said a bad word about anybody. He was really popular.” In a statement issued yesterday, Secamb said: “The Trust acted extremely quickly when this incident came to light and immediately launched an investigation. This investigation is being overseen by the Trust’s medical director to establish exactly what happened and if any action needs to be taken. “In line with Trust procedure, the staff involved in this incident have been suspended as a precautionary measure pending the outcome of the investigation into the circumstances of this case. “Secamb would like to offer its sincere condolences to the family at what must be a very difficult time.” A Sussex Police spokesman said: “A postmortem on the body of Michael Bradford has revealed that the 38-year-old died of natural causes. Mr Bradford died at his home address on June 14.” Mike's funeral will be held at 12.45pm on Monday at Woodvale North Chapel, Lewes Road, Brighton.

The family has said that everyone is welcome. The inquest into Mike Bradford's death has been scheduled for September 29 at Brighton County Court.