Thunderstorm asthma: eighth person dies in Melbourne

EIGHT people have now died following Melbourne’s thunderstorm asthma event, with another person still fighting for life.

EIGHT people have now died following Melbourne’s thunderstorm asthma event, with another person still fighting for life.

The additional two deaths overnight come eight days after the rare weather event caused an explosion of pollen across the city.

Health authorities confirmed seven people were still in hospital from respiratory and other related health conditions.

Health Minister Jill Hennessy reaffirmed plans for an extensive probe by the Inspector General for Emergency Management.

“It’s a matter that warrants proper investigation, as well as our compassion,” she said.

However, Opposition health spokeswoman Mary Wooldridge criticised the government’s response to the tragedy, saying the planned investigation — the final report is due in April — was not enough.

“We need answers now, in advance of the bushfire season, in addition to the longer-term, independent review,” she said.

Ms Wooldridge said there had “clearly been a communications failure”, when the storms hit on Monday night.

They led to 8500 people being treated in hospitals for asthma over the next 24 hours.

“This was life and death and there were no alerts to the media, the information was not going out to people,” she said.

“It’s not good enough for (Premier) Daniel Andrews to say, ‘we’ll tell you what happened in five months’ time’. We need to know whether our emergency response (system) has the capabilities it needs to cope with these situations.”

Meanwhile, grandfather and dentist Munawar Hussain has shocked doctors after waking from four days in a coma.

Dr Hussain, 58, had to be ­resuscitated in the Northern Hospital carpark after he stopped breathing during Monday’s storm.

“What happened, it was just like a miracle,” said his daughter, Zainab Hussain. “They said that when he wakes up, if he wakes up, that he would be in a vegetative state and that there was really not much hope. But he's awake and he's talking.”

Despite their joy, Ms Hussain said her family’s thoughts were with those who had lost loved ones.

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