A Coronial Inquest Unveils a Troubling Sequence of Events Leading to a Young Man's Cardiac Arrest at a Perth Train Station
A recent coronial inquest has shed light on the tragic death of a 24-year-old man, Joshua Van Malssen, at a Perth train station, revealing a series of events that contributed to his cardiac arrest. The inquest found that restraining Van Malssen in a face-down position during his arrest played a significant role in his death.
Van Malssen was arrested by Public Transport Authority (PTA) officers at the Perth Underground Station in June 2023 for allegedly being verbally abusive towards staff. During the arrest, officers handcuffed Van Malssen while he was in the prone position, but it took them some time to realize he had stopped breathing.
The inquest revealed that Van Malssen's death was caused by cardiac arrest. He suffered from various medical conditions, including complex heart disease, asthma, early bronchopneumonia, and obesity. The combination of these factors, along with his alcohol consumption, proved to be overwhelming.
The Coronial Court learned that three PTA officers initially seated Van Malssen on the ground before rolling him into the prone position. CCTV footage showed the officers struggling to place handcuffs due to Van Malssen's large wrists. The standard of monitoring by the PTA officers while he was restrained in the prone position was described as 'poor'.
Video surveillance footage captured Van Malssen taking several short, deep breaths before becoming unconscious. One officer eventually noticed his unresponsiveness and the change in his face color, prompting the removal of the handcuffs and the call for an ambulance.
A post-mortem conducted by two doctors identified a series of contributing factors. They stated that the physical stress of the altercation, coupled with Van Malssen's pre-existing heart and lung conditions, obesity, and alcohol consumption, led to cardiac arrest and his untimely death.
Coroner Michael Jenkin concluded that the arrest was justified and appropriate, but a 'cascade of events' caused Van Malssen's death. He attributed the fatal cardiac arrhythmia to a combination of factors, including his medical conditions, exertion, intoxication, and restraint in the prone position.
As a result of the inquest, Coroner Jenkin made several recommendations to the PTA. These included improving training on monitoring individuals in the prone position and assessing the suitability of the handcuffs for detaining larger individuals. The PTA Defensive Tactics Manual was also recommended to be updated, emphasizing the heightened risk of death in the prone position.
The PTA has accepted all the recommendations and is working towards implementing them. Van Malssen's mother expressed her family's devastation and called for better support, training, and funding to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
This case highlights the importance of thorough training and monitoring during arrests, especially when dealing with individuals facing medical challenges. It serves as a reminder that every second counts in critical situations, and the system must strive to provide the best care and support to ensure the safety and well-being of all involved.
