Probe into hospital response after bat bite led to tragic death of Craig Nolte

Family and friends of Craig Nolte – the first person in NSW to die from bat lyssavirus – claim he was sent home from hospital without a lifesaving vaccine, as NSW Health launches an investigation into the handling of his case.

Craig Nolte, who died after being bitten by a bat in Ballina, and wife Robyn. His family claim he was sent home from hospital because the lifesaving vaccine wasn’t in stock. Picture: Supplied

Exclusive: Family and friends of bat victim Craig Nolte – the first person in NSW to die from bat lyssavirus – have claimed he was sent home from his local hospital after the bite as it did not have the lifesaving vaccine he needed in stock.

The claims come as NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant has been drafted in to oversee an independent investigation into Mr Notel’s death.

The 56-year-old father of two was bitten on the finger while trying to free a trapped bat from the veranda of his father’s farm in Tintenbar on the Northern Rivers in October.

Sources close to the family have told The Daily Telegraph that Mr Nolte attended Ballina Base Hospital immediately seeking treatment, but was asked to return the next day.

NSW Health insist Mr Nolte was administered appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis, which included the rabies immunoglobulin and all four doses, “within the national guidelines” – 48 hours – set out by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, as per international advice.

But a NSW Health spokesperson admitted not all hospitals hold the vaccines and did not deny the treatment was not initially available at the local hospital.

“Rabies immunoglobulin is held in some NSW Health hospitals, and is rapidly dispatched for treatment to others within the recommended window after exposure.

“There have been rare cases documented of breakthrough infections worldwide. These are thoroughly investigated to determine the contributing factors and learnings.

Mr Nolte, affectionately known as “Zebbo”, later received the immunoglobulin vaccine, as well as the anti-rabies vaccine. He did not develop symptoms until months later, and died while in a medically induced coma on July 3.

His sister Tanya Nolte – a horsewoman and naturopath from Bexhill, in the NSW Northern Rivers region – is demanding answers.

“NSW Health is not telling the family anything,” she said.

“I’ve been hearing that Craig had gone to Ballina Base Hospital and the vaccine was not available, that he was told to come back the next day and that it would be flown in from Sydney.

Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader outside Ballina Hospital after local man Craig Nolte died from a bat bite. Picture by Luke Marsden.

As a former vet, Ms Nolte said she knows “the lyssavirus can take hold within two week or two years”.

“I want to know what happened to my brother, the truth must come out,” she said.

“Craig and I have not always seen eye-to-eye but he was my brother and I want to know how he died, I want to know if there was a chance his death could have been avoided.”

Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader echoed calls for answers into the father-of-two’s death.

“I’m hoping what I’m hearing – that the vaccine was not available within the required 24 hour period to treat the virus – is incorrect,” she said.

Tanya Nolte the sister of Craig Nolteis demanding answers about his death. Picture: Scott Powick

“Seeing that we have so many bat colonies, one would have thought we would have been totally prepared for an incident such as this”.

Mayor Cadwallader spoke to Health Minister Ryan Park on Thursday, and was assured there would be a “thorough investigation headed up by Dr Kerry Chant”.

“It is sad to think this dreadful death could have been avoided. I send again my deepest condolences to Mrs Nolte and the children,” she said.

A pest control worker at the Tintenbar property where Craig Nolte was bitten by a bat and later died. Picture: Luke Marsden.

Mr Nolte’s shattered wife Robyn says her grief has been compounded by the silence from NSW Health.

“Craig did everything right, his death should never have happened,” she said.

“I’m in too much grief to be dealing with this right now but when I’m ready I’ll talk.

“It needs to be told; it should not have happened.”

Pest control teams were seen working at the farm where Mr Nolte was bitten, which he had inherited when his father died.

Mr Nolte’s is the first case of confirmed lyssavirus in NSW, a rare genus of viruses that includes rabies, found in Australian fruit bats and flying foxes.

NSW Health has convened a panel of leading experts in public health, microbiology, infectious diseases and vaccinology to review the case.

Originally published as Probe into hospital response after bat bite led to tragic death of Craig Nolte