Deceased
David John Pendergast
Demographics
31y, male
Date of death
2001-06-10
Finding date
2002-05-09
Cause of death
coronary occlusion contributed to by atheroma
AI-generated summary
David John Pendergast, a 31-year-old Aboriginal Australian prisoner at Alice Springs Correctional Centre, died from coronary occlusion contributed to by severe atheroma on 10 June 2001. He suffered a massive cardiac arrest while in minimum-security cottage accommodation. Prison staff and fellow inmates initiated CPR immediately; paramedics arrived within 34 minutes. Resuscitation efforts proved unsuccessful. Autopsy revealed severe, previously undiagnosed heart disease unusual for his age. The coroner found nothing could have prevented his death. Key lessons include: recognising that ischaemic heart disease is prevalent in Aboriginal male populations in NT prisons; ensuring emergency response systems (including non-operational duress alarms) function reliably; and maintaining adequate emergency medical resources. The case highlights the importance of baseline cardiac assessment and health screening in custodial settings, particularly for Indigenous prisoners at elevated cardiovascular risk.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
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