A bus union official has been suspended after revealing a driver could not call for help on his radio when a teenager collapsed on his bus.

Mohammed Taj, branch secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, has been suspended by bus company First Bradford after calling for an inquiry into why the radio was not working.

Matthew Douglas, 14, of Moorthorpe Avenue, Thornbury, suffered a asthma attack as he travelled home on the bus. He later died in Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The bus driver had to ring the emergency services from a phone box in Broadstone Way, Holme Wood.

After the tragedy Mr Taj, 48, expressed his concern about the radio and said he wanted to see first aid courses for drivers

Director of Bradford Racial Equality Council Ishtiaq Ahmed said: "We wholeheartedly condemn the outrageous action of First Bradford in suspending Mohammed Taj following his statement to the Telegraph & Argus.

"We believe the suspension is horrendous and insensitive, given the circumstances surrounding the death of Matthew Douglas."

Mr Taj is understood to have been sent home pending an inquiry by the company. Union shop stewards will meet tomorrow before Mr Taj attends a private disciplinary hearing with First Bradford.

The normal TGWU meeting will be held afterwards at Back Bowling Road depot and officials are urging all members to attend to discuss the suspension.

Branch president Sikander Mahmood said: "There is widespread anger about this. Taj has been loyal to us and we will be loyal to him. We are very concerned and feel it is a direct attack on the branch."

Regional union official Ronnie Morrison said: "I understand he has been suspended for bringing the company into disrepute by talking to the Telegraph & Argus. But he is acting in his trade union role by bringing forward the concerns of his members."

Brandon Jones, marketing officer for First Bradford, said he could not comment on an internal matter.

Mr Taj, who is married with two children and lives in Pudsey, was unavailable to comment.

He was a member of the high-powered Commission which investigated the causes of the Manningham riots.

Mr Taj has been a bus driver for about 25 years and is the TUC representative on the district's Training and Enterprise Council.

'How I cradled Matthew'

Bus passenger Alan Copley today described how he desperately battled to save Matthew's life. He said the 14-year-old was gasping for breath on the back seat as he boarded the bus.

Mr Copley, 51, of Holme Wood, president of Laisterdyke Cricket Club, said Matthew was asking for an ambulance and the driver had gone to the phone box. Another woman passenger was comforting Matthew.

Mr Copley said he ran to the telephone and spoke to the driver and ambulance service when Matthew lost consciousness. The driver passed the phone to him to take instructions from the ambulance service.

"I went back to the bus and followed their instructions. I laid him flat on his back and supported his head. It was a desperate situation and I cradled him until the ambulance arrived. I ran out and told them the boy was critical." Mr Copley said the paramedics tried for about half an hour to revive Matthew before carrying him to the ambulance.

He added: "It is important for drivers to know first aid. It would have helped. As it was, nobody knew any. I agree there should be training."

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