1. Two people died during the thunderstorm asthma outbreak in Melbourne.
At least two people died after a thunderstorm triggered hundreds of ‘thunderstorm asthma’ attacks across Melbourne on Monday nigh, forcing several hospitals to enact disaster management plans.
Nine News reports that one of the tragic deaths was a 20-year-old, Hope Carnevali, who died on the front lawn of her home after she could not be revived while waiting for an ambulance.
Carnevali’s uncle told Nine News it had taken an ambulance 30 minutes to arrive.
“She was very kind-hearted, beautiful gorgeous little girl. She’d do anything for anyone,” he said of the law student. “If somebody needed her she’d be there. She was an angel. We’re going to miss her so much.”
Health Minister, Jill Hennessy, said the ambulance delays would be the subject of a full investigation.
“No doubt, there will be lessons to learn, there always are in these cases, but every part of our emergency management surge occurred correctly,” Ms Hennessy said.
Ms Carnevali’s uncle told Nine News that patients should be informed if there were going to be delays of 20 minutes of half an hour.
“So maybe we can take them straight to hospital where it can save a life, because I’ve lost my niece, maybe for that reason,” he said.
The second death was said to be a school leaver who had just completed year 12.
2. Twenty-three children died in NSW last year because they missed out on the vaccines that could have saved their lives.
A report has found that of the children who died from preventable diseases in NSW from 2015 to 2014 found almost half of the deaths were avoidable had the children been fully vaccinated against the diseases in question.