Deceased
Eric Gaykamangu
Demographics
37y, male
Date of death
2001-12-16
Finding date
2003-04-10
Cause of death
primary intracerebral haemorrhage, contributed to by acute alcohol intoxication
AI-generated summary
Eric Gaykamangu, a 37-year-old Aboriginal man, died of primary intracerebral haemorrhage whilst in hospital ICU, nine days after initial presentation. He was found intoxicated outside Centrelink on 7 December 2001 with minor head injuries from an altercation. Ambulance officers assessed him as intoxicated without serious injury and called police for transport to a sobering-up shelter. He was taken to police protective custody at the Watchhouse. Later that evening, Watchhouse staff noted concerning deterioration (difficult to rouse, staggering, incoherent speech, inability to stay awake), appropriately called an ambulance, and he was admitted to hospital. CT imaging three days post-admission revealed a large left temporal lobe intracerebral haemorrhage. Neurosurgical consultation (Adelaide) and later emergency surgery proved unsuccessful. The coroner found the death resulted from natural causes (intracerebral haemorrhage, contributed to by acute alcohol intoxication) and likely commenced at or before police apprehension. Both ambulance officers and Watchhouse staff were found to have acted appropriately and in compliance with relevant procedures. No criticisms of clinical management were identified.
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Specialties
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Procedures
39y · Male·Multiple blunt force injuries due to motor vehicle collision (pedestrian), with …
A 39-year-old Aboriginal male with chronic alcohol intoxication was struck by a vehicle travelling at 79 km/h in a 60 km/h zone while crossing unsafely at an uncontrolled location. He sustained severe traumatic brain inj…
20y · Female·Severe traumatic brain injury sustained in a pedestrian versus motor vehicle col…
A 20-year-old Aboriginal female pedestrian with bilateral hearing loss was struck by a vehicle driven by an intoxicated male driver (BAC 0.158%) travelling at 74 kph in a 60 kph zone. She suffered catastrophic traumatic …
51y · Male·Spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage
A 51-year-old Aboriginal man experienced a spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage while riding his motorcycle, causing him to crash. He was transported to Alice Springs Hospital where he remained on life support in ICU fo…
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