Man, 45, dies after emergency services respond to 'mental health episode' in Waterloo

Australia Broadcast Center

4 days ago

A man has died after emergency services attempted to subdue him during a suspected mental health episode in inner-city Sydney.
The 45-year-old man died at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on Tuesday after police and paramedics were called to a Pitt Street, Waterloo unit block for a concern for welfare call about 2am.
Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna told reporters police were requested by NSW Ambulance for "urgent" assistance, but was unsure if the man was sedated or not.
"We believe [the man was] suffering or possibly suffering from a mental health episode," he said.
"At first the male was compliant ... at some point that male has become non-compliant, and has resisted aggressively. The male was subdued by police.
"Where the ambulance had the intention of sedating him, I'm unaware if he actually was sedated or not at this point in time, but shortly thereafter that male has gone into cardiac arrest."
Assistant Commissioner McKenna said officers had not used any other restraint other than handcuffs during the incident.
The call to sedate the man, he said, came from NSW Ambulance paramedics.
"It's unfortunate that this male is now deceased, but all of the circumstances around that will be thoroughly investigated."
The man's death is being treated as a critical incident, meaning both the NSW Police Professional Standards Command and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission will investigate the circumstances.