Coroner's Finding: Hyatt, Saxon George
Deceased
Saxon George Hyatt
Demographics
55y, male
Date of death
2019-01-14
Finding date
2021-03-19
Cause of death
exsanguination resulting from self-inflicted wounds to left brachial artery and multiple wounds to right and left wrists
AI-generated summary
Saxon George Hyatt, 55, died by suicide in Risdon Prison on 14 January 2019 through exsanguination from self-inflicted wounds to his brachial artery and wrists. He had a long history of mental health conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression, with poor medication compliance and heavy alcohol use. Prison health assessments were conducted appropriately on admission. After an assault by another inmate, Hyatt declined medical attention and appeared settled. Later that evening he self-harmed fatally. The coroner found prison care and supervision adequate and not contributory to death. The clinical lesson concerns recognising that apparently settled demeanour and denial of suicidal ideation do not exclude suicide risk, particularly in those with chronic mental illness, substance use, and recent trauma or assault.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Contributing factors
- chronic untreated mental illness (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression)
- poor medication compliance
- heavy alcohol use and self-medication
- social isolation
- recent assault by fellow inmate
- underlying vulnerability despite apparent settled presentation
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