Indigenous man Nathan Reynolds died in custody from an asthma attack in 2018. An inquest into the death found prison staff were "confused, uncoordinated and unreasonably delayed”
A coronial inquest into the death of Nathan Reynolds, an Indigenous man in custody, has found the delayed response to an asthma attack "deprived Nathan of at least some chance of surviving his acute asthma attack". The inquest found deficiencies relating to both the management of Mr Reynolds' ongoing asthma, and the immediate response to his medical emergency by Corrective Services NSW.
August 31, 2018
11:27pm - Mr Reynolds urgently called for help from his cell.
11:38pm - Prison staff first responded to Mr Reynolds, who was being assisted by other inmates.
11:48pm - Prison staff called an ambulance.
11:50pm - The prison's registered nurse attended the scene.
12:15am - Ambulance personnel arrive at the scene.
12:44am - Ambulance personnel declare Mr Reynolds dead.
"[The care provided by NSW Corrective Services] failed to reduce his risk for a fatal asthma attack, it did not comply with established treatment for the management of severe asthma. It did not even comply with NSW Health's own policies to prevent chronically-ill prisoners from deterioration and death. These failings significantly increased Nathan's risk for the fatal attack." - NSW Deputy state coroner Elizabeth Ryan, delivering her decision on Thursday