Coroner's Finding: VELKOS Basile
Deceased
Basile Velkos
Demographics
39y, male
Date of death
2006-06-12
Finding date
2009-12-09
Cause of death
Multi organ failure complicating acute paraquat and diquat toxicity
AI-generated summary
A 39-year-old man with depression and alcohol misuse died from multi-organ failure following acute paraquat and diquat toxicity. He ingested herbicide stored in a Coca-Cola bottle on 10 June 2006, arriving at hospital significantly intoxicated. He was detained under the Mental Health Act and transferred from Lyell McEwin to Royal Adelaide Hospital where he died. The coroner found his detention lawful and appropriate, and medical treatment adequate. Clinically, this case highlights the dangers of herbicide poisoning and emphasises proper storage in clearly marked containers. It also underscores the challenge of managing patients presenting with intentional toxin ingestion whilst significantly intoxicated, requiring coordinated psychiatric and medical management during rapid deterioration from multi-organ failure.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Contributing factors
- Ingestion of herbicide (paraquat and diquat) stored in unmarked Coca-Cola bottle
- High blood alcohol concentration (0.153%) at admission indicating marked intoxication
- Uncooperative and aggressive behaviour in emergency department
- Underlying depression and alcohol misuse
- Recent domestic conflict and marital distress
Coroner's recommendations
- Observation that it is a highly undesirable practice to store poisons in other than accurately marked containers suitable for that purpose
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