Inquest into the death of Eric Lewis Wobona

55y · Male·Cardiac hypertrophy with significant conditions contributing: coronary artery atherosclerosis, coronary artery ectasia, and type 2 diabetes

Eric Lewis Wobona, a 55-year-old Aboriginal man with extensive cardiovascular risk factors including congestive cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, and previous amputation, died of acute heart failure from cardiac hypertrophy with coronary artery atherosclerosis. He was arrested for assault and held in police custody overnight, then released and died at home approximately 13 hours later. The coroner found he was extremely high cardiovascular risk and no preventable factors contributed to his death. He was not taking prescribed cardiac and diabetes medications despite having them available. Police and health services provided appropriate care during custody, with nurse assessment showing stable vital signs and no acute distress. The death was not causally related to police detention, medication gaps during custody, or medication access delays after release. The coroner commended post-incident safety reforms including wheelchair provision at police stations and enhanced nursing presence in watch houses.