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Home →Inquest Findings→Inquest Findings 2019→Collard, Frederick John

Inquest into the Death of Frederick John COLLARD

Inquest into the Death of Frederick John COLLARD

Delivered on :26 June 2019

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Coroner Linton

Recommendations :N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : At the time of his death the deceased was a 35 year old man who had been drinking and smoking and using methylamphetamine, contrary to medical advice.

The deceased had significant pre-existing ischaemic heart disease and was non-compliant with his medication for his heart condition. On the days preceding his death the deceased had been showing signs of chest pains, which was a warning sign given his history of heart disease. On 17 June 2015 the deceased displayed increasingly agitated and erratic behaviour, which frightened his family. He eventually climbed onto the roof of a house in the early hours of the morning and began throwing roof tiles, putting himself and others at risk.

Police and ambulance paramedics attended and found the deceased still on the roof behaving in an aggressive and erratic manner. Initial attempts to talk the deceased into coming down from the roof were unsuccessful, until unexpectedly, the deceased came down from the roof, landing heavily on a car bonnet. He was restrained by police officers. Sedating medications were given in accordance with St John Ambulance protocol to reduce the unacceptable risk of injury the deceased presented to himself and others. He continued to struggle for a period.

The deceased was given two sedatives and after the second sedative was administered the deceased went into cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated. Medical evidence indicated the sedative played no role in the death.

The Coroner found the deceased died as a result of the effect of methylamphetamine in combination with his pre-existing heart disease in combination with his exertion on the roof and his violent struggles against the physical restraint.

The Coroner was satisfied the police officers acted appropriately.

Catchwords : Restraint and Sedation : Non-compliant with medications : Misadventure


Last updated: 5-Jul-2019

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