Finding into death of Geoffrey Joseph O"Neill
Deceased
Geoffrey Joseph O'Neill
Demographics
91y, male
Date of death
2018-03-25
Finding date
2019
Cause of death
Head injuries sustained in a fall
AI-generated summary
Geoffrey O'Neill, 91 years old, died from head injuries sustained in a fall down stairs while attending a basketball game. He missed a step while ascending the stairs, fell backwards approximately 72 centimetres, and sustained an intracranial haemorrhage not amenable to surgical intervention. O'Neill had relevant risk factors including age, previous falls in the prior two years, use of a walking stick, and cardiac history. The stairs appeared to comply with building standards, though minor variations in the first few stairs were noted by the building surveyor. The incident occurred in a public venue with available handrails. No evidence suggests negligent access restrictions. The coroner recommended compliance verification with relevant building legislation.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Contributing factors
- Age (91 years)
- Previous falls in prior two years
- Use of walking stick for ambulation
- Possible miss-step on stair
- Falls risk in elderly patient
Coroner's recommendations
- Bayside City Council compile a detailed regulatory report in relation to the Basketball Stadium and undertake any work set out in that report nominated as being required to bring the building into compliance with the relevant legislation applying to the structures
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