Quebec coroner critical of bystanders who ignored dying man on Metro platform

[goal-ghost]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-coroner-critical-of-bystanders-who-ignored-dying-man-on-metro-platform-1.2948058

"A Quebec coroner says a man who was seriously injured by a subway train and collapsed on a Metro platform in Montreal might have had a chance to survive, if only someone had helped him.

Coroner Jacques Ramsay released a report today on the death of Radil Hebrich, 59, who was hit and killed by a Metro car in January 2014 at Langelier station in Montreal's east end.

Hebrich had been drinking and stumbled across the yellow warning line at the edge of the platform and was hit in the head by the side of a passing train.

He fell onto the platform and was bleeding profusely.

The entire incident was caught on security cameras.

"It's very provocative, because for 16 minutes you see Mr. Hebrich on the platform with nobody that tries to provide help," Ramsay told CBC News.

The coroner writes that dozens of people and three Metro trains passed by as he bled from the head.

No one intervened to help Hebrich.

"Some people actually turn and look at what's happening, but nobody goes to give him help," said Ramsay. "People coming into the station do not know what happened and consequently, don't feel involved."

It took 16 minutes before emergency services arrived and another three minutes before they began to try and revive the man. He died shortly afterwards.

Ramsay said it is not certain whether an earlier intervention could have improved Hebrich's chances of survival, because of the seriousness of his head injury.

"If you're 19 minutes without CPR … it does not help your chances," he said.

"As for the indifference of the passengers," Ramsay wrote in his report on the incident, "it says a lot about citizen apathy in our society. There is not much positive to write about this operation."

Ramsay said that he did not think that people were intentionally not helping Hebrich, however, the collective inactivity could have caused him to not receive help as quickly as possible.

"It's sort of a case where people expect their neighbours will do something," he said. "I think as a rule the Quebec society is a very caring society, so I think this is very pertinent in the sense that it makes us question 'what would I have done in a situation like this' because it could happen to anyone."

Ramsay only made one recommendation in his report. He suggests Montreal's public transportation authority, the STM, review its safety protocols.

"I was hoping this could serve as a sentinel event," he said.

The STM declined to be interviewed, but said it takes the recommendation in the report seriously."

Sad story. I'm curious to see what others think this indicates about our society. Is city life so functionally distracted that this type of thing goes unnoticed? Was he just unlucky?

[Rounoush]

These types of stories fascinate me. I don't blame anybody on either side but it is a very interesting scenario.

[GLASSJAW]

[2SKATES1STICK]

diffusion of responsibility. fascinating how more humans = less individual humanity.

[BanTSN]

"Oh that's a shame.

So anyway..."

[viking mama]

^ yes - it's like if only one other person had been on that platform,..I bet they would have helped. But, with mutiple people being there doing little or nothing,..it seemed to justify a collective apathy or choice - to NOT become involved,.. or even investigate. How very sad that reality is,...that few are willing to make the sarifices of time or talents to help and save a downed or hurt stranger in need. More leadership needed, in this area.

Don't diss police officiers and those other service people, who do choose a path of serving society and its' most vulnerable members. I tip my hat to them and their leadership in that cause.

[Papayas]

To be fair this is a very difficult situation for bystanders to help. We are talking about a serious head trama here with blood lost. Any inexperience people would probably kill him faster than saving him if they try to "help" him.

The only thing people can do as a responsible person is to call for professional help.

To those who actually thinks someone should "help" in this thread, think about what you can do?

[Raoul Duke]

To be fair this is a very difficult situation for bystanders to help. We are talking about a serious head trama here with blood lost. Any inexperience people would probably kill him faster than saving him if they try to "help" him.

The only thing people can do as a responsible person is to call for professional help.

To those who actually thinks someone should "help" in this thread, think about what you can do?

Well said. Like any average Joe would have any idea as to what to do in that situation! I probably would've just called 911 after puking.

[2SKATES1STICK]

To be fair this is a very difficult situation for bystanders to help. We are talking about a serious head trama here with blood lost. Any inexperience people would probably kill him faster than saving him if they try to "help" him.

The only thing people can do as a responsible person is to call for professional help.

To those who actually thinks someone should "help" in this thread, think about what you can do?

CALL 911

id try and stop the bleeding, stabilize neck, check abcs and cpr if necessary.

[jdatb]

did anyone call 911 immediately?

[Lillooet_Hillbilly]

it's hard to say, without equipment or protection I can't say if I would involve myself. I take no chances when it comes to blood

[GLASSJAW]

did anyone call 911 immediately?

the video in the link says that nobody called for 15 minutes, I think. and three subway drivers saw went by. one called, another got out and looked then went away

[The Bookie]

Weird. I was in Mtl in January last year, sitting on the metro late one night stopped at a station, on the opposite platform there was a guy laid out with a puddle of blood around him and people standing around nervously. A minute after we pulled out of the station there was an announcement that service would be disrupted on that line. But that was in NDG nowhere close to the east end.

[Lockout Casualty]

To be fair this is a very difficult situation for bystanders to help. We are talking about a serious head trama here with blood lost. Any inexperience people would probably kill him faster than saving him if they try to "help" him.

The only thing people can do as a responsible person is to call for professional help.

To those who actually thinks someone should "help" in this thread, think about what you can do?

A couple of years ago a young woman fainted in front of me and a bunch of other people at a beach while in line to buy ice cream. While my first reaction was to run up and try to "help", I didn't budge, and neither did 20+ other people around me, until a nurse turned up in the crowd that took the situation into her hands. Of course someone called 911 right away.

I was terrified that I could make it worse. I still remember my thoughts from that moment, it was like slow mo. The sound of her head smacking the pavement still makes me feel uneasy.

[nucklehead]

Did it sound sorta like when you smack a trout with a hammer?

[Lockout Casualty]

Did it sound sorta like when you smack a trout with a hammer?

Similar, but more... hollow. Seriously gut wrenching sound.

[Sprusgoose]

To be fair this is a very difficult situation for bystanders to help. We are talking about a serious head trama here with blood lost. Any inexperience people would probably kill him faster than saving him if they try to "help" him.

The only thing people can do as a responsible person is to call for professional help.

To those who actually thinks someone should "help" in this thread, think about what you can do?

I'm sorry, but what a cop out. The bystander effect is not an excuse for washing your hands of responsibility. Placing a phone call and tending to a victim isn't much to ask. While your average joe may not be a doctor, 911 dispatchers can provide basic knowledge on how to handle a given situation.

I've been first on scene at a few different accidents/incidents and there's a lot to be said for calling for help immediately and providing victims with a calming influence until medical assistance arrives. There's no way to know whether it could have helped this fellow, but 16 minutes of people standing, doing nothing, is &^@#ing disgusting.

[Papayas]

I'm sorry, but what a cop out. The bystander effect is not an excuse for washing your hands of responsibility. Placing a phone call and tending to a victim isn't much to ask. While your average joe may not be a doctor, 911 dispatchers can provide basic knowledge on how to handle a given situation.

I've been first on scene at a few different accidents/incidents and there's a lot to be said for calling for help immediately and providing victims with a calming influence until medical assistance arrives. There's no way to know whether it could have helped this fellow, but 16 minutes of people standing, doing nothing, is ???? disgusting.

I didn't say the only responsible thing a bystander can do is to call for help right?

But ya, I didn't know those people didn't even try to call for help for 15mins. It is disgusting

[Gurn]

I'd like to see an acting club set up a scene were the coroner is placed in a situation were he feels somebody needs help and see if he actually handles it properly, or if he is just another " I'm better than you guy".

Standing on the sidelines, after the fact, is a lot different than being there.

As a shipboard firefighter, rescue guy, boat guy and former IFA/OFA of 25 years I can tell you even Transport Canada says 10% of a trained crew will be a write off in an emergency. 10%, despite a lot of training and constant drills, not just some random people on subway platform.

[Brick Tamland]

Criminal to at least not call 911