Confusion and flawed information about a potential second offender led to paramedics being barred from entering Bondi Junction Westfield, an inquest into last year’s fatal stabbing has heard.
Joel Cauchi was experiencing psychotic symptoms when he went on a stabbing spree at the Sydney shopping complex on 13 April 2024.
The 40-year-old killed six people and injured 10 others before he was shot dead by the New South Wales police officer Amy Scott.
Confusion and miscommunication about a potential second offender led the NSW Ambulance assistant commissioner, Brent Armitage, to declare the mall a “hot zone” at about 4.30pm.
This meant paramedics were barred from entering the complex.
Armitage was acting on flawed information that was not provided in a timely manner, a NSW Ambulance medical executive told the Bondi stabbings inquest on Friday.
“It does represent a near miss and is therefore an important learning opportunity,” Dr Thomas Evens said.
All victims had already been removed from the mall so the declaration did not affect any medical outcomes.
But Evens and other emergency doctors on an expert panel said miscommunication between providers can delay victims’ care.
The panel put forward a framework developed in the UK called JESIP, focusing on how emergency providers can best work together to respond to emergencies.
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They were careful to acknowledge their suggestions were made in hindsight and their report included critiques, not criticism.
While describing the “exceptionally high standard” of care, physician Philip Cowburn called the zoning system a dogmatic approach.
“The zones are always too big, they are left in place for too long and patients come into harm as a result,” he said.
All emergency service providers should be trained in the “10 Second Triage” system, where they can quickly identify patients who need support in a rapidly unfolding incident, the panel said.
The inquest continues.
