Last shift ‘a day of hell’
Bus controller suffers fatal stroke
A massive stroke at the end of a ‘‘farcical’’ week coordinating Wellington’s buses was the beginning of the end for Dmitri Edwards, 49.
Edwards was at work on Friday when the seven-year NZ Bus employee had the stroke. Family were there when life support was turned off yesterday at Wellington Hospital. He died at 12.20pm.
Dmitri’s brother, Nik Edwards, understood various factors likely played a role in his brother’s stroke but believed the incredible stress caused by the fallout of Wellington’s bus overhaul followed by a horror Friday at work was the final straw.
‘‘If he was at home this wouldn’t have happened,’’ he said.
Dmitri was working long hours juggling changing shifts and routes for NZ Bus, which is suffering a crippling driver shortage.
It was midway through his Friday shift – when he had already had to make about 85 changes to the likes of schedules and drivers – when he had the stroke, his brother said. A bad day would normally involve about 20 changes during a shift. The job had become a ‘‘farcical nightmare’’ with ‘‘f... ups going on and on’’, Nik Edwards said. ‘‘This is mismanagement of the worst kind. The issue is the system is unfair . . . expectations for workers go crazy.’’
Work had Dmitri ‘‘stressed out of his nut’’ in the weeks before he turned up for what would be his last shift, doing an ‘‘impossible’’ job on Friday.
‘‘That morning, it was a day of hell.’’
Edwards described his brother as a ‘‘very capable’’ man who enjoyed sports and was not an obvious stroke candidate – except for the stress.
NZ Bus chief executive Zane Fulljames would not comment on allegations work stress played a role in the stroke.
Edwards, who joined the company in 2012 and was employed as ‘‘leading operator’’, had what was thought to be a stroke at work on Friday, he said.
He was supported by colleagues until medical services arrived.
‘‘The thoughts and prayers of the NZ Bus team are with Dmitri and his family during this difficult time.’’
Stroke Foundation chief executive Mark Vivian said the link between stress and strokes was not straightforward.
‘‘Generally speaking, stress does not directly cause stroke. For instance, an analysis of stroke risk was published after the Canterbury earthquakes and found no increase in stroke rate.
‘‘Periods of stress are not at all uncommon in the population and not measurably linked to acute stroke.
‘‘However, high blood pressure is the major risk for stroke. Stress can increase blood pressure.
‘‘Extreme stress and extreme blood pressure may have immediate consequences. High blood pressure can also be the result of several factors including being overweight, smoking, alcohol, eating too much salt, or not getting enough exercise.
‘‘People who are under stress at work don’t always maintain a healthy lifestyle.’’