A 42-year-old woman with a disability died after choking on a burger at her supported accommodation in Brisbane, with a coronial inquest examining the circumstances surrounding her death.
Bridie Gilligan, who had an intellectual disability linked to Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, had a known history of choking and was on a restricted soft-food diet, the inquest was told.
Incident occurred during supervised visit
According to evidence presented, a support worker visiting Ms Gilligan at accommodation run by Endeavour Foundation had purchased two burgers from Hungry Jack’s on April 29 — one for herself and one for Ms Gilligan.
The support worker said she intended to cut the burger into small pieces before serving it. However, Ms Gilligan reportedly took the Yumbo burger and ran outside with it before this could be done.
Ms Gilligan subsequently choked on the food, lost consciousness and was taken to hospital by ambulance. She later died.
Family raises concerns over food safety
Ms Gilligan’s family questioned whether it was appropriate for her to be given a burger, given her disability and dietary needs. Her mother told police that Ms Gilligan required constant supervision while eating and should only have been given soft-textured foods.
Coroner finds no grounds for prosecution
In findings released this week, Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher said the support worker had acted appropriately in responding to the emergency by calling for medical help immediately.
The Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor concluded there was insufficient evidence to pursue legal action against either the organisation or the worker.
While the coroner acknowledged that the death was preventable, she noted that Ms Gilligan required complex care and did not adjust easily to new support workers, a factor that needed careful consideration.