Inmate Dies in Prison Van After 17-Minute Delay in Heart Attack Treatment
A shocking inquest has revealed that a prison van crew focused on "anything except" helping a dying inmate as he lay slumped in the back of a vehicle outside a London court. The tragic incident, which occurred at Thames Magistrates’ Court in Bow, resulted in the death of 47-year-old Sean Williams from a heart attack after a critical 17-minute delay in treatment.
Timeline of Neglect
The inquest, which concluded on February 13 this year, detailed a harrowing sequence of events. Sean Williams began fitting at 6:06 PM and suffered a fatal cardiac arrest at 6:15 PM. Despite this life-threatening situation, neither the police escort nor the Serco van driver opened his cell door when he stopped showing signs of life. It was not until 6:23 PM that they finally accessed his cell, with chest compressions administered only at 6:25 PM—a full 17 minutes after the initial medical emergency began.
Coroner's Scathing Report
In a damning report following the inquest, coroner Ian Potter condemned the lack of urgency displayed by the Serco crew. He stated, "I put it to the Serco driver that the focus of the two Serco crew members seemed to be on talking to the three other prisoners in their cells, on phone calls, in fact on anything except getting Mr Williams out of his cell to see if the crew could help him." The driver reportedly agreed with this assessment.
Potter further criticized the crew's failure to act promptly, noting that they did not even attempt to relieve Williams' "slumped, squashed position" to address potential airway obstruction. When the driver eventually performed chest compressions, he could "not face giving rescue breaths" and seemed to have forgotten he had a face guard on his belt—a crucial device for safe CPR.
Systemic Failures Exposed
The investigation uncovered multiple systemic failures:
- The driver did not press the emergency button in the cab to alert the operations control centre.
- The crew called the London Ambulance Service but were unable to provide the postcode, delaying emergency response.
- Serco claimed satisfaction with the officers' first aid training, but the jury ruled it was "inadequate" and failed to provide clear guidance on emergency procedures.
Additionally, the coroner highlighted issues with the custody nurse, who reviewed Williams twice in 12 hours before his court appearance. On the second review, the nurse did not take any observations of his vital signs before prescribing dihydrocodeine for drug withdrawal and failed to record any clinical details. During court testimony, the nurse was unable to describe the signs and symptoms of withdrawal, raising serious concerns about medical oversight.
Broader Implications
This case has sparked outrage and calls for accountability in the prison transport system. The inquest's findings underscore a critical need for improved training and protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future. As the community mourns the loss of Sean Williams, questions remain about the adequacy of care and responsibility in custodial settings.
Serco has been contacted for comment regarding the incident and the coroner's report. The company's response, or lack thereof, will be closely watched as stakeholders demand justice and reform.
