It’s been alleged that a boy who died from a cardiac arrest half a day after being discharged from hospital with a suspected flu, could barely walk when he was sent home.
Carey Alexander was admitted to Concord Hospital on August 9, 2014 after experiencing flu-like symptoms, but he was released early the next morning.
A NSW coronial inquest heard on Monday that during his seven-hour stay at the hospital, the Year 8 student lost consciousness for an estimated 60 seconds, according to Nurse Amanda Jacobs.
Carey Alexander, who died from cardiac arrest, was reportedly unable to walk when he was discharged from hospital earlier that day with a suspected flu
Ms Jacobs was reportedly walking past a bathroom at about 9pm when she heard the sound of Carey passing out, Nine News reports.
She found him on the ground against a garbage bin, where she said he remained unconscious between 30 to 60 seconds.
But according to the young boy’s father, he was passed out for about five minutes, counsel assisting Maria Gerace told the Glebe Coroners Court.
He was admitted to Concord Hospital on August 9, 2014 after experiencing flu-like symptoms, but he was released early the next morning at about 2.30am
Ms Gerace said a doctor who diagnosed the teenager with a viral infection, reported that Carey was ‘alert, conscious and feeling better’ before being sent home about 2.30am the next day.
But according to Ms Gerace, the boy was given a wheelchair to get to the car because ‘he was not able to walk’.
She said the boy’s father had to carry him from the car to the house when they arrived home.
An inquest was told on Monday that Carey passed out during his seven-hour hospital stay, before being transported to the car in a wheelchair
Carey’s hand was reportedly purple or red in colour at 7am, and he was complaining of sharp pains in his foot.
That’s when he was transported to Westmean Children’s Hospital’s emergency department, where he later suffered from a cardiac arrest and passed away.
Ms Gerace said an autopsy had determined the boy’s likely cause of death was viral myocarditis.
The inquest is set to continue before Magistrate Liz Ryan.