Coroner's Finding: Smart, Joshua David
Deceased
Joshua David Smart
Demographics
28y, male
Date of death
2014-03-21
Finding date
2016-01-29
Cause of death
Brain death resulting from exsanguination and hypovolaemic arrest due to severed brachial artery
AI-generated summary
Joshua David Smart, a 28-year-old scaffolder, died from brain death resulting from catastrophic exsanguination and hypovolaemic arrest. At approximately 4:45 am on 20 March 2014, whilst attempting to stop dogs fighting outside his bedroom window at his home in Newnham, Tasmania, he struck the window glass which shattered. His arm passed through the broken window, severing his brachial artery. Despite immediate first aid, CPR administered by his brother, rapid ambulance response, emergency surgery with multiple blood transfusions, and intensive care support at Launceston General Hospital, the extent of blood loss proved irreversible. He was formally declared dead on 21 March 2014. The coroner found this was a pure accident unrelated to any person's conduct and noted that the 1950s-built house contained window glass that pre-dated mandatory safety standards introduced in 1989.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Clinical conditions
Procedures
Contributing factors
- Window glass not meeting modern safety standards (house built 1950s, before 1989 safety standards introduced)
- Dogs fighting causing disturbance
- Severing of brachial artery from broken window laceration
- Catastrophic blood loss
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