Ambulance Victoria has launched an internal investigation into the death of 17-year-old Melbourne boy Caleb Pearson who was put back to bed by paramedics just hours before he stopped breathing.
Caleb died at his mother’s home in Croydon last Wednesday after complaining of a sore throat a week earlier.
His condition worsened until he appeared pale and ashen and could not move his legs to get out of bed and go to hospital.
His father, Karl, said his mother called an ambulance to take him to the hospital emergency ward.
They said he should have been taken to hospital, mistakes were made and they’re looking into.
Karl Pearson, Caleb’s father
“[They] did the basic tests, blood pressure and all this and that and said ‘oh, it’s just a virus, you know we’ll put you back to bed’,” he said.
“From what I can gather they thought she was an over-reacting mother, panicky.
“During the night he still wasn’t real well and by about 12 o’clock, when she was checking on him, he wasn’t really coherent.
“So instead of ringing the ambulance, because they didn’t believe her last time, wouldn’t take him, she’s rung an on-call doctor.”
The boy’s mother found him dead before the doctor arrived.
She performed CPR on him and called triple-0 but he could not be revived.
An autopsy has been performed but the cause of the boy’s death is yet to be determined.
‘They said he should have been taken to hospital’
Mr Pearson said he and Caleb’s mother were contacted by Ambulance Victoria on Friday for a meeting.
“They said he should have been taken to hospital, mistakes were made and they’re looking into,” he said.
Ambulance Victoria confirmed a comprehensive clinical review was underway.
Spokesman Tony Walker said the organisation was supporting the paramedics who treated the boy and who are devastated by his death.
“We’re continuing to meet with them to talk about the case and to understand what occurred,” he said.
“I’m not being critical of our paramedics here, they’ve gone and done a professional assessment.
“We need to understand exactly what occurred in this case, and if there are learnings from it we’ll obviously apply those to the organisation.
“In hindsight, we would have thought Caleb should have been transported to hospital, given the outcome.”
Mr Pearson said if parents were concerned about their children they should insist they are taken to hospital.
“Then you’ve got the 100 per cent, you know you’ve done everything you can,” he said.
“If they pass away in hospital, then you’ve done everything.
“But if they’re left at home like that then there’s still that doubt.”