A travel agency and a Victorian school have been prosecuted in connection with the “preventable” death of a diabetic adolescent who passed away nearly five years ago while on a school trip abroad.
Lachlan Cook, a student at Kilvington Grammar, became unwell in September 2019 while traveling to Vietnam on a World Challenge Expeditions trip.
Later, the 16-year-old passed away from brain damage brought on by a diabetic condition called severe diabetic ketoacidosis.
World Challenge and Kilvington Grammar have been charged in relation to the incident, according to a statement released by WorkSafe Victoria today.
“WorkSafe alleges the school failed, so far as was reasonably practicable, to reduce the risk of illness or death to diabetic students on school trips,” it stated in a statement.
Section 23(1) of the OHS Act charges World Challenge Expeditions with three counts for failing to make sure that people other than employees weren’t exposed to threats to their health and safety.
“WorkSafe alleges the tour company failed, so far as was reasonably practicable, to reduce the risk of illness or death to participating students, including those with diabetes.”
Cook fell ill on September 26 while traveling by bus to Hue, a city in central Vietnam.
Symptoms included vomiting and slurred speech.
Despite receiving water, Panadol, and anti-nausea medication, his condition worsened and he experienced cardiac arrest.
After being transported to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, he was deemed brain dead.
Coroner Audrey Jamieson declared the teen’s death “tragic and preventable” during an inquest held last year.
Jamieson discovered that the World Challenge leader and two of the Kilvington teachers on the trip lacked the necessary training to assist pupils with diabetes.
“There is clear and cogent evidence that the failures and shortcomings of World Challenge Expeditions and Kilvington Grammar School contributed to death,” Jamieson stated.
