Inquest into the death of Garry Weigand

56y · Male·fatal cardiac arrhythmia due to complications from acute bronchopneumonia and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia

Garry Weigand, a 56-year-old man with a history of brain injury and intellectual impairment, died in custody 17 days after arrest. He died from a fatal cardiac arrhythmia resulting from acute bronchopneumonia combined with undiagnosed arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD). Heavy alcohol use prior to custody had suppressed his immune system. He presented with only non-specific symptoms (nausea, reduced appetite) without typical pneumonia signs. The coroner found that pneumonia diagnosis would have been problematic without chest X-ray, and clinical staff had no reason to suspect serious illness. Care provided was deemed appropriate and adequate. Key learning: atypical presentations of serious infection in immunocompromised patients may progress rapidly without classic symptoms, making diagnosis challenging in custodial settings.