Doctors said Dale Nord, from Ossett near Wakefield, was in a diabetic coma and suffering multiple organ failure - but demanded an up front cash payment before they helped him, MPs have been told.

His sister, April Nord, desperately called the emergency duty officer at the British embassy in Jakarta from her home in Barnsley after learning that her brother was critically ill.

But the Foreign Office refused to guarantee or loan the money - and it is claimed the official was initially unwilling to even attend the hospital because such work was not his "day job" and he did not have an interpreter.

Friends in Jakarta managed to provide $700 but Mr Nord, 43, of Broadowler Lane, died around 12 hours after being admitted to hospital.

Tragically, tests later carried by a specialist in West Yorkshire revealed Mr Nord had been suffering from severe dehydration and would have been resuscitated if he had been given fluids.

MPs were told that the specialist concluded that his death was "entirely preventable".

The case was raised during a Westminster Hall debate by Barnsley Central Labour MP Eric Illsley, who said the public "expect a better service from our consular staff abroad".

He added: "I appreciate that the guidelines state that no financial assistance is available, but by the same token it is strange that the Foreign Office was willing simply to stand by and allow the man to die for the want of $1,700."

Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell denied that Pertamina hospital withheld treatment until it received payment and said the embassy official was "correct in saying that he could not guarantee payment of the medical bills".

"I am satisfied that the duty officer provided the appropriate consular assistance," he said.

MPs heard how Mr Nord was unconscious when he arrived at the hospital on the evening of January 4 with his girlfriend Anna, having spent the whole day in his hotel room.

Mr Illsley said: "When presented with Mr Nord, the hospital refused to treat him until his companion had provided $1,700 in cash."

Anna, who is Indonesian, called April Nord at her home in South Yorkshire, who in turn called the British embassy, where she spoke to the duty officer.

Mr Illsley added: "Unfortunately, (the duty officer] responded by saying that it was not his day job, and that he was not used to doing that type of work.

The official suggested Mrs Nord offered to make a credit card payment - but this request was refused by the hospital, it is claimed.

Mr Illsley continued: "After Mr Nord had been in hospital without treatment for several hours, a friend provided $700, which had been collected from friends.

"At that point the hospital agreed to begin some assessment of Mr Nord's condition.

"However, at 5am, Mr Nord allegedly suffered a cardiac arrest, and later that day, he died."

However, the account of Mr Illsley and Ms Nord is disputed by the Foreign Office.

Mr Rammell said: "It is our clear understanding from what Mr Nord's friend said to the duty officer at the time that in fact the hospital did not withhold treatment from Mr Nord until it received the payment it had requested.

"Our belief is that Mr Nord was treated by the hospital throughout the night and he was certainly being treated when the duty officer from the embassy arrived."

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