Coronial
WAcommunity

Inquest into the Death of Donald Joseph Hemara WARD

Deceased

Donald Joseph Hemara WARD

Demographics

50y, male

Coroner

Coroner Jenkin

Date of death

2023-03-04

Finding date

2025-07-02

Cause of death

Multiple injuries sustained in high-speed motorcycle crash

AI-generated summary

Donald Ward, aged 50, died from multiple injuries sustained in a high-speed motorcycle crash on 4 March 2023 in Karratha, WA. Ward left a nightclub intoxicated with alcohol (BAC 0.186%) and cannabis, obscured his number plate, and failed to stop for police. Police appropriately terminated the pursuit within seconds. Ward then lost control on a bush track at high speed (likely exceeding 180 km/h). Despite prompt resuscitation by police and paramedics, he could not be saved. The coroner found no police or paramedic actions caused or contributed to his death. However, the paramedic's decision to cease resuscitation without attempting to address potentially reversible causes (hypoxia, hypovolaemia) was noted, though evidence suggests death was inevitable given his injuries and prolonged oxygen deprivation.

AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.

Specialties

paramedicineemergency medicinetrauma surgery

Error types

possibly diagnostic

Drugs involved

alcoholcannabis

Clinical conditions

multiple traumahaemothoraxpulseless electrical activity (pea)cardiac arresthypoxiahypovolaemia

Procedures

cardiopulmonary resuscitationdefibrillation

Contributing factors

  • alcohol intoxication (BAC 0.186%)
  • cannabis intoxication
  • high-speed riding
  • loss of motorcycle control
  • off-road crash with multi-trauma
  • prolonged oxygen deprivation (>10 minutes)

Coroner's recommendations

  1. WA Police should ask its first aid training provider to emphasise the importance of correct placement of defibrillator pads, especially for obese patients
Full text

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