The Indian-origin community in Edmonton, Canada, is in mourning and demanding answers after the tragic death of a 44-year-old man who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest following an agonizing eight-hour wait in a hospital emergency room.
A Father's Agonizing Account
Prashant Sreekumar, an accountant and father of three young children, began experiencing severe chest pain while at work. A client drove him to the Grey Nuns Hospital in southeast Edmonton, operated by Covenant Health, where he was registered at triage and told to wait. His father, Kumar Sreekumar, arrived soon after to find his son in extreme distress.
"My son told me, 'Papa, I cannot bear the pain,'" Kumar recalled in an interview with Global News. The family stated that Prashant described his pain as "15 out of 10" and repeatedly informed hospital staff about the severity of his condition.
Hours of Waiting and a Collapse
Medical staff conducted an electrocardiogram (ECG) but, according to the family, told Prashant nothing serious was detected and he would have to continue waiting. He was offered Tylenol for the pain. Over the next several hours, nurses periodically checked his vitals. Kumar watched in horror as his son's blood pressure kept rising. "It went up, up, and up. To me, it was through the roof," he said.
After more than eight hours, Prashant was finally called into the treatment area. His father recounted the final moments: his son had been seated for only a few seconds when he suddenly stood up, clutched his chest, and collapsed. "Nurses called for help, but it was too late," Kumar said. Prashant was pronounced dead from an apparent cardiac arrest.
A Devastated Family and Community Seeks Accountability
Prashant Sreekumar is survived by his wife and three children, aged 3, 10, and 14. Described as deeply devoted to his family and known for his cheerful and kind nature, his loss has created an irreplaceable void. "He lived for his family and his kids," his father said. "Anyone who knew him would say they had never met someone as kind as him."
The death has sent shockwaves through the local Indian-origin community. Family friend Varinder Bhullar, who was also a client of Prashant's accounting services, expressed the collective grief and anger. "This is a huge loss. We expect better from the hospital and from the health-care system," Bhullar stated.
The family is now struggling to comprehend how someone reporting the most severe level of chest pain could remain untreated for so long in an emergency setting. "They took my baby for nothing," a grieving Kumar Sreekumar said.
In a statement, Covenant Health, which operates Grey Nuns Hospital, confirmed the case has been referred to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. "We offer our sympathy to the patient’s family and friends. There is nothing more important than the safety and care of our patients and staff," the statement read. As the investigation proceeds, the incident raises urgent questions about emergency room protocols and patient prioritization in the healthcare system.
