Glenorchy woman Fiona Searle dies after fall outside polling booth on election day
A Tasmanian family is mourning a wheelchair-bound woman who died after falling from a ramp outside a state election polling booth, as they search for answers about how it happened.
Tasmania
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A GRIEVING family is desperately searching for answers about how a wheelchair-bound woman could have fallen from a ramp outside an election polling booth in Hobart’s northern suburbs, resulting in her tragic death.
Fiona Searle died in the Royal Hobart Hospital on Saturday, a week after seriously injuring herself after falling from her motorised wheelchair just metres from the polling place at Glenorchy Primary School.
Ms Searle, who suffered from spina bifida and had spent most of her life in a wheelchair, had been attending to place her vote in the state election.
The 51-year-old’s death came after it was revealed the matter was being investigated by WorkSafe Tasmania through the Justice Department.
It will now be considered by the coroner.
Ms Searle’s family have described the incident as an avoidable tragedy and have questions about how such an incident was possible, including compliance and safety of the venue for people with a disability.
They are concerned about whether the ramp was compliant, including if it had an appropriate barrier in place to mitigate the risk of serious injury from a fall.
Her sister-in-law Deb Hayes said Ms Searle, who liked to be called Fi, had after the fall displayed symptoms consistent with a brain injury and suffered multiple seizures before succumbing to her injuries.
“We don’t have all the facts of what led up to it, but even if something did happen before the fall, and something happened with her chair, if there had have been a barrier, she still would have been here,” she said.
“We want this fixed. I don’t want this happening to someone else.”
The family said they had been frustrated by a lack of information from authorities about the incident.
Ms Searle’s brother Gus Searle said the tragic incident should never have been able to happen.
“This situation is not an accident. This is a death of somebody who went to vote,” he said.
“It’s not like she hadn’t had a wheelchair a long time. She’s been in a wheelchair her whole life. It’s like you and I having legs.”
On Friday, before Ms Searle’s death, the Tasmanian Electoral Commission said the manager of the polling place had come to her aid while calling an ambulance.
An incident report was sent to the Justice Department.
Ms Searle, who was one of seven children, lived independently in Glenorchy but with the support of carers and her family.
“She was feisty, and loved her family,” Ms Hayes said.
“She was very kind hearted, and always willing to help others.”
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