Coroner's Finding: Gardiner, Timmothy Matthew
Deceased
Timmothy Matthew Gardiner
Demographics
29y, male
Date of death
2019-05-18
Finding date
2022-02-18
Cause of death
Gunshot wound to the chest
AI-generated summary
Timothy Matthew Gardiner, aged 29, died from a gunshot wound to the chest sustained when he accidentally dropped a homemade firearm he was carrying while bending to collect belongings at a friend's unit. The firearm, constructed from a torch and capable of firing .22 calibre rounds, discharged upon impact with the floor. He immediately left the unit and went to his mother's residence where emergency services were called. Resuscitation attempts including CPR, intravenous and intra-osseous access were unsuccessful. Death resulted from hypovolemic shock due to severe blood loss. The investigation confirmed no suspicious circumstances or involvement of other persons. This case highlights the dangers of improvised firearms and their unpredictability when subjected to impact.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- Accidental discharge of homemade firearm when dropped
- Possession of improvised .22 calibre firearm
- Firearm design lacking safety mechanisms
- Low muzzle velocity but sufficient to cause fatal injury
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