Inquest into the death of Bernard Greenwell

84y · Male·haemoperitoneum due to ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

Bernard Greenwell, an 84-year-old male, died from rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) while in custody at Cessnock Correctional Centre. He experienced sudden-onset severe left groin pain at 11:30am on 25 April 2023. Correctional officers and nurses responded appropriately, recognising the severity and arranging emergency ambulance transfer within 30 minutes. He was transported to Cessnock District Hospital then John Hunter Hospital where imaging confirmed a ruptured AAA. Despite resuscitation and preparation for emergency surgery, he deteriorated rapidly and died at 19:32. The coroner found the emergency response was appropriate and no action by staff could have altered the outcome. His AAA was not previously identified but would have been essentially impossible to detect clinically beforehand; the finding emphasises appropriate emergency recognition and response protocols were followed.