Deputy Coroner Ian White releases audio of mental health triage call in the inquest into the police shooting of Kobee Huddy

A social worker was “rude” and “blunt” when dealing with a young man who would later be shot by police, a court has heard – listen to the phone call here.

A mental health triage social worker described as “rude” and “uninterested” in her interactions with a young man who would be shot dead by police an hour later will be given the opportunity to respond to criticisms of her behaviour, a court has heard.

On Friday, Deputy Coroner Ian White allowed the six-minute stretch of audio to be released publicly.

He said that while the social worker who answered the call was given the opportunity to respond and be part of the inquest, she was not to be named.

Kobee Huddy was 20 when he died from a single gunshot wound to the chest on May 25, 2019.

An inquest which begun on Wednesday has heard that Mr Huddy’s mental health was spiralling before the shooting.

On the morning of May 25, Mr Huddy called the mental health triage service looking for help.

Mr Huddy said he was just looking for advice and the operator responded: “like what, I don’t have any special advice”.

Kobee Huddy (right) who was shot dead by police in 2019 with his mother Belinda. Picture: GoFundMe

During the phone call, Mr Huddy told the operator he had been discharged from hospital only hours before for self harm and was now “dripping blood”.

In audio played to the court, the operator told an ambulance staff member that Mr Huddy was “playing games again” and “speaking in riddles”.

After that phone call, Mr Huddy called emergency services and said he had a gun and was going to shoot police officers.

The court heard that the tenor of the two phone calls was completely different despite being only minutes apart.

Counsel assisting the Coroner, Peter Longson, said the earlier phone call in which Mr Huddy was asking for help, and his later apology to police after being shot, were the true indications of the young man’s personality.

An inquest has begun into the death of Kobee Huddy who was shot by police in 2019.

Mr Longson said multiple police cars converged on Seaton in preparation to confront Mr Huddy.

A lone officer was asked to do a drive by of the house where Mr Huddy said he was.

The officer spotted a car leaving the property and pulled it over.

The court heard Mr Huddy was in the passenger seat and got out of the car holding a 30cm-long kitchen knife.

The officer drew his gun and walked backwards away from Mr Huddy.

He backed up around 30m down the street while radioing for urgent assistance. As patrols converged on the street, Mr Huddy took two rapid steps towards the officer, who fired a single shot into Mr Huddy’s chest.

He fell to the ground and when asked if he had another knife, indicated his right pocket. He told the first officer to his side that he was “sorry”.

Mr Huddy died from the injury just under two hours later in hospital.

The inquest continues next week.

A SA Health spokeswoman encouraged anyone experiencing a mental health crisis to seek support.