school and a travel company have been charged over the "preventable" death of a diabetic teenager who died on an overseas school trip almost five years ago.The 16-year-old later died from brain damage due to severe diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication of diabetes.Lachlan Cook fell ill during a trip to Vietnam organised by World Challenge Expeditions in September, 2019.
"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 said in a statement. "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."The 16-year-old later died from brain damage due to severe diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication of diabetes.
He was given Panadol, water and anti-nausea medication but his condition deteriorated and he went into cardiac arrest.At an inquest last year, Coroner Audrey Jamieson ruled the teenager's death "tragic and preventable".