Finding into death of Clarence Tuivaiese Nicholas Leo

37y · Male·Acute asthma (thunderstorm asthma event)

37-year-old male died from acute asthma during the unprecedented Melbourne thunderstorm asthma event (21-22 November 2016). He had moderate to severe asthma with suboptimal preventer medication use and recently diagnosed severe obstructive sleep apnea with profound oxygen desaturation. He was allergic to rye grass pollen and Alternaria mould. He ran out of reliever medication (Salbutamol) and became acutely unwell early 22 November, collapsing before ambulance arrival. Resuscitation was attempted but unsuccessful. Clinical lessons: asthma management plans and regular preventer medication use are critical; severe allergic asthma with hay fever requires targeted preventive therapy; patients with sleep apnea and asthma are at higher risk; compliance with prescribed asthma medications could have been lifesaving.