Coroner's Finding: Lachlan Charles Cumbo

6y · Male·Drowning due to epileptic seizure while bathing

A 6-year-old boy drowned in a bath at home during an apparent epileptic seizure. He had a history of recurrent seizures since infancy attributed to febrile convulsions, with eight hospital admissions between 2003-2008 across different facilities, yet epilepsy was never diagnosed and no diagnostic testing performed. The family lacked continuity of care—no regular GP and scattered hospital visits prevented pattern recognition of the serious underlying condition. Had epilepsy been properly diagnosed, anti-epileptic medications could have reduced seizure frequency. Parents received minimal education about seizure management or drowning risks. The coroner found that longitudinal care by a single GP and appropriate investigations would have prevented the death. Recommendations include increased public awareness of drowning risks in children with seizure disorders and collaboration between health authorities and non-government agencies to develop prevention strategies.