Coroner's Finding: Calabrese Vincenzo

MAGISTRATES COURT of TASMANIA

CORONIAL DIVISION Record of Investigation into Death (Without Inquest) Coroners Act 1995 Coroners Rules 2006 Rule 11 I, Olivia McTaggart, Coroner, having investigated the death of Vincenzo Calabrese Find, pursuant to Section 28(1) of the Coroners Act 1995, that a) The identity of the deceased is Vincenzo Calabrese.

b) Mr Calabrese was born in Italy on 14 November 1950. He was 70 years of age at his death and is survived by his wife, Pasqualina Calabrese, and their two children.

Mr Calabrese arrived in Australia in 1969. He worked as a self-employed painter for most of his life and was working in this occupation at the time of his death.

He was in reasonable health, although he had a history of ischaemic heart disease and cardiomyopathy. Mr Calabrese was under the care of his general practitioner and cardiologist and was prescribed regular medications. In the period before his death, he complained of feeling dizzy at times, which he attributed to the blood pressure medication he was taking.

On 23 March 2021, Mr Calabrese was working as a painter for a home renovation in Bellerive. One of the homeowners, Mrs Cailin Baghurst, had spoken to Mr Calabrese during that morning and she observed him to be fine. However, at about 10.20am, shortly after Mr Calabrese had morning tea with the other workers on site, he called out for help. The other workers came to his aid. One of the workers, Owen Wise, observed that he was standing on the ground, conscious and holding on to scaffolding. He had blood on his hands and face.

Upon questioning by Mr Wise, Mr Calabrese said that he had not fallen from the scaffolding and had not tripped on any object but had had a collapse. Mrs Baghurst, a nurse, was alerted to the incident and went to Mr Calabrese, who appeared shocked and dazed. Mr Calabrese told Mrs Baghurst that he had not fallen from the scaffolding. Mrs Baghurst then went inside and contacted her husband, an emergency doctor, for help and also arranged for an ambulance to be called. Mrs Baghurst returned to check on Mr Calabrese and found that he had a large hematoma on the back of his head and he was bleeding. Mr Calabrese

told her that he had felt dizzy before suffering the injury. Mrs Baghurst bandaged his head and laid him down. Her husband, Dr Baghurst, arrived before the ambulance. At that point, both Dr Baghurst and Mrs Baghurst maintained Mr Calabrese’s airway, pulse and breathing as well as administering intravenous saline into his forearm. Mr Calabrese was partially unconscious throughout this time and he was sweating. Mrs Baghurst saw blood on the brick wall, adjacent to where Mr Calabrese had been standing at the time he suffered the injury.

Mr Calabrese was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital where he was treated for brain injury and swelling. Unfortunately, his prognosis was very poor and the decision was made with the family to provide him only with palliative care. Mr Calabrese died early in the morning of 24 March 2021.

c) The cause of death was head injury. I am satisfied that Mr Calabrese’s atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease was a significant contributing factor in his death. I find that he was standing at ground level on the worksite when he suffered symptoms of dizziness relating to his cardiac issues which, in turn, caused him to collapse and strike his head on the nearby brick wall.

d) Mr Calabrese died on 24 March 2021 at Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania.

In making the above findings, I have had regard to the evidence gained in the comprehensive investigation into Mr Calabrese’s death. The evidence includes:  The police and hospital reports of death for the coroner;  Affidavits of life extinct and identification;  Opinion of the forensic pathologist regarding cause of death;  The toxicology report from Forensic Science Service Tasmania;  Hospital, ambulance and general practitioner records for Mr Calabrese;  Affidavits and statements from family members and witnesses, including Michael Calabrese son of Mr Calabrese), Damien Goss (worker on site), Owen Wise and Cailin Baghurst;  Affidavit, with scene photographs, of Constable Ian Bellette, Forensic Services; and  Worksafe report and investigation documentation.

Comments and recommendations I am satisfied upon the evidence in the investigation that Mr Calabrese’s death from a head injury whilst at work was precipitated by a cardiac event and that there were no hazards or issues at the worksite that were in any way connected to his death.

I commend the actions of Mrs Baghurst and Dr Baghurst in providing medical treatment to Mr Calabrese after his injury.

Mr Calabrese died at his ‘workplace’ of unnatural causes. As such, his death would ordinarily be required to be subject of a public inquest pursuant to section 24 Coroners Act 1995 (Tas).

However, I have received a written representation from the senior next of kin under section 26A(2) of the Act, that she does not seek that an inquest be held. Additionally, I am satisfied pursuant to section 26A(3) that not holding an inquest is not contrary to the public interest.

I have therefore decided not to do so.

The circumstances of Mr Calabrese’s death are not such as to require me to make any further comments or any recommendations pursuant to Section 28 of the Coroners Act 1995.

I convey my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr Calabrese.

Dated: 20 February 2023 at Hobart in the State of Tasmania.

Olivia McTaggart Coroner