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Elderly man trapped in a chair for up to four days after carer son died Elderly father trapped in chair for up to four days after carer son dies
(about 2 hours later)
An elderly, infirm Victorian man is recovering in hospital after his carer son died, leaving him trapped in a chair for up to four days. An infirm, elderly man has spent up to four days trapped in a chair inside his home in Geelong, Victoria, after his carer son died.
A man in his 50s, who was acting as carer for his 89-year-old father, is thought to have died from natural causes, leaving the father alone and unable to care for himself inside their home in the Geelong suburb of Hamlyn Heights. The 89-year-old was cared for by a man in his 50s, who is thought to have died from natural causes, leaving the father alone and unable to care for himself.
Police believe the elderly man was alone for up to four days before the scene was discovered on Wednesday afternoon. “[The man] was alone for up to four days. He was taken to hospital in a serious condition suffering dehydration. It’s a sad situation,” Leading Senior Constable Lee Thomson said.
The father was taken to Geelong hospital in a serious condition, suffering dehydration. Paramedics found the son dead and the father unconscious at the Hamlyn Heights house about 2pm on Wednesday.
Sergeant Dan Willsmore of Corio police said that when officers arrived they suspected a gas leak may have caused the carer’s death.
“It’s a father and son. The son cares for the father. It looks like the son has died, probably from natural causes, and the father has been trapped in his chair,” Willsmore told the Geelong Advertiser.
He said police initially suspected carbon monoxide may have been behind the tragedy, and Country Fire Authority firefighters were called in as a precaution.
“When we first got here we thought it could be suspicious in the sense of a gas leak,” he said. “But there’s no carbon monoxide poisoning.”
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.Police will prepare a report for the coroner.