Ninth person dead following thunderstorm asthma event

BREAKING: A ninth person has died from the freak thunderstorm asthma event that struck Victoria last year.

A ninth person has died from a thunderstorm asthma event. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy.

A NINTH person has died from the freak thunderstorm asthma event that struck Victoria last year.

More than 8500 people were hospitalised from asthma-related illnesses when stifling heat, a high pollen count, strong winds and moisture in the air combined to cause breathing difficulties on November 21.

Nine people died as a result, with the latest death confirmed today.

A statement from the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services said no more patients remain in hospital and, with the pollen season in Victoria now over, it is not expecting thunderstorm activity to trigger any more instances.

Among the other victims who died last year were Hope Carnevali, 20, Omar Moujalled, 18, Apollo Papadopoulos, 35, and Clarence Leo.

Ms Carnevali died on the front lawn in the arms of family waiting for an ambulance.

Mr Moujalled was on his way when he lost his fight for life.

Paramedics tried to revive Mr Papadopoulos without success and Mr Leo died in the early hours of the morning.

Clarence Leo, with wife Amanda Leo, died on November 22 as part of the "thunderstorm asthma" event.

Elsa Voong with her children Sheila Lau, 25, Jet Lau, 10, and Julia Lau, 3, with the picture of their father Sam who died from thunderstorm asthma, at their home in Mernda. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Thunderstorm asthma has been witnessed just four times in the past 30 years in Melbourne, a city that is susceptible because it is surrounded by parks and gardens.

It happens when pollen granules rupture from moisture in the air. They break up into hundreds of tiny particles that find their way into human lungs and make breathing difficult.

People who get hay fever are most at risk. For many sufferers, they had never experienced asthma in any form. They panicked, phoned triple-0 and waited for help.

Ambulance officers did the best they could, but resources were stretched to breaking point.

Ambulance Victoria later released a statement, announcing an official investigation would be carried out.

John Weiner, a consultant physician at AllergyNet, told news.com.au the conditions on November 21 last year were “the perfect storm” for Melburnians.

He said victims suffered “the same as any other asthma (sufferers), but it’s a dramatic event occurring quickly for people who haven’t had it before.”

More to come.

Originally published as Ninth person dead following thunderstorm asthma event