Finding into death of Valerie Knox

AI-generated summary

An 82-year-old woman died from complications of a closed head injury sustained when she fell from a wheelchair while being transported at a zoo. Her husband had left her in a transit-style wheelchair on a slight incline while retrieving their car. The wheelchair rolled approximately 50 metres down a paved area, and she fell striking her head. She suffered an intracranial haemorrhage requiring surgery but ultimately died. The coroner's investigation highlighted that professional input during wheelchair selection is critical to ensure safe models for both users and carers. Transit wheelchairs lack sophisticated braking mechanisms and rely entirely on attendant vigilance. Lockable hand brakes on wheelchairs can prevent rolling away. The death underscores that elderly persons requiring wheelchair assistance should obtain professional occupational therapy or physiotherapy assessment before selecting equipment, rather than purchasing wheelchairs without expert guidance.

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