Kelvin Forrest death: Inquest into Byron Bay Central Hospital fall

While the circumstances of his death were a tragedy, the love that filled a Byron Bay man’s life was clear as his brother gave evidence at an inquest into a fatal hospital fall.

An inquest into the 2018 death of Byron Bay man Kelvin Forrest at Byron Central Hospital has been held in Ballina Coroner's Court. Picture: Supplied

The circumstances of Kelvin James Forrest’s death were a tragedy.

But the love and joy that filled his life was abundantly clear to a courtroom in Ballina when his family shared treasured memories on Friday during the final day of an inquest into his death.

A photo slide show played to the inquest showed the Byron Bay man grinning, surrounded by loved ones, bowling and enjoying life.

Large family gatherings featuring birthday cake and Kelvin embraced in loving hugs were also among the snapshots his family shared.

Kelvin was a patient at Byron Central Hospital for 11 days leading up to his death at the facility on July 28, 2018.

Detective Acting Sergeant Gary Sheehan, who was in charge of the investigation for the inquest into the death of Kelvin James Forrest at Byron Central Hospital, leaves Ballina Courthouse after the final day of the inquest hearings on Friday. Picture: Liana Boss

His carer found him unwell on the floor of his home before his hospital admission.

On July 26, Kelvin was found wandering at the roundabout outside the hospital and his death came after he climbed onto a roof near the inpatient unit balcony, then fell to the pavement of the loading dock below.

Kelvin, who had Down syndrome and dementia, was taken to the emergency department but after extensive CPR he died as a result of the fall.

His brother, John Forrest, said Kelvin lived up to their family’s dream that he would have a fulfilling life and would contribute to society.

For a child with a disability born in 1964, that wasn’t easy.

Acting chief executive of the Northern NSW Local Health District Lynne Weir was present throughout the inquest into the death of Kelvin James Forrest at Byron Central Hospital. She is pictured outside Ballina Courthouse after the final day of the inquest hearings on November 5. Picture: Liana Boss

“Society was very different from today,” Mr Forrest said in a statement delivered on behalf of the whole family on Friday.

He said children with disabilities were often institutionalised in an “extremely harsh” approach.

But he said Kelvin was among the earliest children with a disability to get an education and he quickly had his kindergarten teacher under his spell.

After leaving his parents’ Mullumbimby home, Kelvin spent some time at a group home in the same town.

But it wasn’t an ideal setting for him and he ultimately lived independently, with the support of care workers, in Byron Bay.

He worked at a plant nursery and was involved in Riding for the Disabled, went 10-pin bowling and enjoyed gym and swimming and had a fondness for the Gold Coast’s theme parks.

Byron Central Hospital’s Inpatient Unit, where Kelvin Forrest was a patient in the final days of his life. Picture: Cathy Adams

“He also loved the movies, dancing and dining out,” Mr Forrest said.

When there were family gatherings, Kelvin was “always the centre of attention”.

Things grew difficult for Kelvin, a man of routine, when his parents’ functions began to decline and when they moved into a nursing home in late 2017.

He took the passing of his mother three months later “very hard” as she was “a central pillar of Kelvin’s life”, Mr Forrest said.

Mr Forrest said those close to Kelvin knew he was struggling in the time before his hospital stay.

He said it was “recognised he was unable to cope and was needing help” but the right support wasn’t put in place before his tragic death.

He said the family hoped deficiencies identified throughout the inquest could be remedied.

The inquest has been held at Ballina Courthouse this week. Picture: Liana Boss

Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame said she was “profoundly moved” by the slide show of photos depicting Kelvin’s life and the way it was brimming with “love, and inclusion and joy”.

“It’s families like yours that have changed the world and have changed how we all think about experience in disability,” she said.

“Your family’s ability to dream for Kelvin meant that he had this life and that a character and if I may say, what a smile.

“(We are here) to get to the bottom of what happened and to hope we can come up with a way of everyone understanding that it just can’t happen again.”

Health staff and those associated with Kelvin’s National Disability Insurance Scheme care were among the witnesses called before the inquest.

Ms Grahame is expected to hand down her findings on February 25.