Build fence around fatal school site, Tasmanian coroner recommends after wheelchair fall

A coroner says a fall at the site where a wheelchair-bound woman sustained fatal injuries on election day at a northern suburbs school was ‘clearly [a] foreseeable risk’. His recommendations.

Fiona Searle with brothers Reg Searle and Gus Searle on her 50th birthday. Fiona Searle who died after a fall on May 1st 2021. Picture: supplied by the family

A Tasmanian coroner has recommended a fence be built around a sunken sitting area at Glenorchy Primary School, where a wheelchair-bound woman sustained fatal injuries after falling from a pathway in 2021.

In investigating the death of Fiona Searle, who died in hospital from head trauma a week after the incident, Coroner Robert Webster found the three-sided sunken sitting area represented a “clearly foreseeable risk” to anyone on the school grounds.

“It is not too difficult to envisage another wheelchair going off the unprotected sides or young school children, who are playing chasings in the playground and who are often unaware of such risks, falling from all three sides,” Mr Webster said.

The investigation found that on 1 May, 2021, 51-year-old Ms Searle had visited the school from her nearby residence for the purpose of voting in that year’s Tasmanian state election.

To reach the polling booth located inside the school’s gymnasium, Ms Searle had to manoeuvre her electric wheelchair up a concrete ramp and past the sunken sitting area.

“As Ms Searle has negotiated the area at the top of the ramp her wheelchair has gone over the edge … and has ended up on top of her in the sunken seated area below,” Mr Webster found.

“At the time of Ms Searle’s death, there were no guard rails around the edge of the upper level of the sunken sitting area”.

The investigation heard from a witness who reported observing Ms Searle hit her head in the sitting area as she fell.

Despite members of the public quickly coming to Ms Searle’s aid, it took several minutes for her to be removed from the wheelchair due to a seatbelt needing to be unclipped.

When paramedics arrived at the scene soon afterwards, Ms Searle had no recollection of the accident, and was transferred to Royal Hobart Hospital when she underwent a CT scan.

“Over subsequent days, Ms Searle’s condition deteriorated,” Mr Webster said.

“She continued to experience seizures, even when provided with anti-seizure medication. Her condition did not improve despite treatment.

“Due to Ms Searle’s poor prognosis and her rapid deterioration, and after discussions with her family, the decision was made to place Ms Searle in palliative care.

“Ms Searle subsequently died in the morning of 8 May 2021.”

A postmortem conducted by a forensic pathologist concluded that Ms Searle died from traumatic head injuries she suffered when she fell.

Mr Webster said while the ramp and sunken sitting area were compliant with relevant building codes, this had not prevented Ms Searle’s accident.

“I therefore recommend a fence … be erected around the three sides of the sunken sitting area,” Mr Webster said.

“There should be a gate in the fence to provide access to the steps on each side of the area.

“I convey my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Ms Searle.”