Finding into death of Robert John Woolcock

53y · Male·Right ventricular tear due to blunt chest trauma sustained in a motor vehicle incident

A 53-year-old male died from a right ventricular tear sustained in a motor vehicle collision after failing to give way at a signed intersection. He was driving unlicensed at the time. Toxicology detected methylamphetamine (~2.0mg/L) and amphetamine (~0.2mg/L). The coroner found that illicit drug use cannot be excluded as possibly contributing to his driving behaviour. He suffered cardiac arrests during emergency resuscitation and surgical intervention. Clinical staff performed appropriate acute trauma management including bilateral chest tube thoracostomies, resuscitation, and attempted surgical repair, but the severity of myocardial injury (friable tissue tearing under sutures) was incompatible with survival. The death was primarily attributable to the mechanism of injury rather than medical misadventure.