Four-year-old child succumbs to severe brain injury due to choking on a cocktail sausage, coroner's court learns.
In the quiet neighbourhood of Churchfield, O’Malley Park, Limerick, a heartbreaking tragedy unfolded on the evening of August 16, 2022. Four-year-old Robert ("Robbie") Power-O’Meara, a vibrant and much-loved child, tragically lost his life after choking on a cocktail sausage at home.
Robbie was at home with his mother, Melissa Power, and his older brother when the incident occurred. While Melissa was in the kitchen, Robbie choked on the sausage. In a desperate attempt to save her son, Melissa tried to clear his airway by putting her finger down his throat to dislodge the sausage. Despite her efforts, Robbie was unable to breathe, and his older brother was upstairs unaware of the emergency.
An ambulance was called, and it arrived several minutes later. Robbie was initially treated at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), but his condition deteriorated rapidly. He was later transferred to Temple Street Hospital in Dublin for specialist care, where tests revealed that he had suffered a "very severe" hypoxic brain injury, leaving him with no chance of survival.
The inquest into Robbie's death revealed that he had been on a waiting list for tonsil removal surgery at the time of the incident. An ENT appointment at UHL was referred for him by his GP in March 2022, on a priority basis, due to his tonsils. Two weeks after Robbie's death, the ENT appointment finally arrived in the mail, which Melissa said she "ripped up."
Dr Gallagher, the coroner, returned an inquest verdict of accidental death. The inflammation of Robert Power-O'Meara's brainstem was a significant contributory condition to his death. Dr John O'Neill, a paediatric histopathology consultant, suggested that the inflammation could have affected Robbie's swallowing, though this was not certain.
In a show of compassion, Dr Gallagher expressed his sympathies, saying, "There's nothing really I can say to bring you any words of comfort, it's just so tragic that this happened in the way it did, and I'm very, very sorry."
Robbie's persistent issues with his tonsils were enlarged at the time of his death. His neighbour was also sought for help, but the sausage could not be dislodged. Robbie was ventilated at UHL and later transferred to Temple Street Hospital in Dublin, where it took 45 minutes to restore circulation upon his arrival.
In a selfless act of kindness, Robert's organs were donated to save other children after his death on the evening of August 22nd. The Irish Examiner, BreakingNews.ie, RTE, and The Irish Times have provided in-depth coverage of the case and the inquest proceedings held at Dublin District Coroner’s Court, offering the most comprehensive information publicly available about the tragic incident and its aftermath.
- Despite the ongoing medical-conditions, such as chronic diseases like enlarged tonsils, Robbie was still an active and beloved child in the Churchfield neighborhood.
- The incident with the cocktail sausage, which unfortunately led to Robbie's respiratory-conditions, occurred while he was at home with his family.
- Fitness-and-exercise, like avoiding choking hazards, is crucial for maintaining digestive-health and overall health-and-wellness, a lesson that Melissa Power wishes she knew earlier.
- In the wake of the tragedy, mental-health support was provided to the bereaved family and the community, highlighting the importance of addressing such issues in general-news coverage.
- The cardiovascular-health system in Limerick was tested during the crisis, with the ambulance arriving promptly but the UHL hospital failing to help Robbie stabilize before he was transferred to Temple Street Hospital.
- During the inquest, neurological-disorders, such as the severe hypoxic brain injury Robbie suffered, were discussed as contributory conditions in his accidental death.
- The case of Robbie Power-O'Meara not only brought awareness to the importance of timely medical care for chronic diseases like tonsillitis, but it also showcased the resilience of crime-and-justice systems when dealing with sensitive and heartbreaking situations.
