Inquest into the death of Bernard Greenwell
Deceased
Bernard Greenwell
Demographics
84y, male
Date of death
2023-04-25
Finding date
2025-03-25
Cause of death
haemoperitoneum due to ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm
AI-generated summary
Bernard Greenwell, an 84-year-old male, died from rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) while in custody at Cessnock Correctional Centre. He experienced sudden-onset severe left groin pain at 11:30am on 25 April 2023. Correctional officers and nurses responded appropriately, recognising the severity and arranging emergency ambulance transfer within 30 minutes. He was transported to Cessnock District Hospital then John Hunter Hospital where imaging confirmed a ruptured AAA. Despite resuscitation and preparation for emergency surgery, he deteriorated rapidly and died at 19:32. The coroner found the emergency response was appropriate and no action by staff could have altered the outcome. His AAA was not previously identified but would have been essentially impossible to detect clinically beforehand; the finding emphasises appropriate emergency recognition and response protocols were followed.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Specialties
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- sudden rupture of large abdominal aortic aneurysm
- age 84 years
- rapid haemorrhagic shock
- extensive pre-rupture calcification
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