A STUDENT has told how he was beaten unconscious by a gang and had to take an Uber to hospital because an ambulance would not pick him up.

Jem Sanderson-Nash, 20, was attacked by a group in Western Road in the early hours of Sunday morning - just days before his sister's wedding.

Although his memory is hazy, he believes he was struck with a metal container and repeatedly kicked in the head, while his girlfriend listened to the attack on the phone.

After regaining consciousness, the desperate University of Sussex music student called out for help.

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But, after two women came rushing to his aid and lent him a phone to call for an ambulance, he was told that one would not be turning up "because his injuries were not life-threatening".

The ambulance service has since said it was experiencing "very high demand at the time".

The Argus:

Two women came rushing to his aid in Western Road 

He said: "I believe the start of the altercation was over something to do with cigarettes - they wanted a cig off me.

"My girlfriend later told me they were shouting at me as I was on the phone to her at the time.

"I was hit in the back of the head with a metal water bottle, I think, that knocked me unconscious and I don't remember falling down on the floor.

"I remember taking kicks to the face.

"After I remember walking towards my house in Hove calling out for help when two women came and helped call 999.

"I spoke to the operator to get an ambulance and I was refused after they asked some questions as my injuries were not life-threatening.

"It makes me feel a bit let down.

"Before I got into the Uber, I told the women my name so I could send them money, which I later did - it cost me a tenner."

A brain scan following the attack found no serious injuries.

However, Mr Sanderson-Nash's face was black and blue for his sister's wedding, where he was acting best man just days later in London.

The Argus:

Mr Sanderson-Nash was acting best man at a wedding just days later 

Speaking about the wedding at St Mathews in Bayswater, London, on Tuesday, he said: "It was lovely, beautiful and went off without a hitch.

"My other sister has a broken leg so we were sharing ibuprofens."

A spokesman for the South East Coast Ambulance Service said: “We take any concerns raised seriously and invite Mr Nash to contact us so we can look into the circumstances in more detail.

"We were experiencing very high demand at the time of the call and prioritising our response to patients in a life-threatening or serious condition.

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"We are very sorry to hear of Mr Nash’s experience and would urge anyone with any information to contact Sussex Police.”

Jem's mother, Emma, who posted online about the incident said the police have seemingly closed the case, without looking for any CCTV in the area.

A Sussex Police spokesman added: "When speaking to police, the victim was unable to recall where the assault took place; anyone who can help with our enquiries is asked to report it online or call 101, quoting serial 324 of 01/11."