Man died in mobility scooter rollover

AN intellectually disabled Tasmanian man died from a brain haemorrhage following an accident on his mobility scooter last year, a coroner has found.

Keith Thomas Stewart, who also suffered Tourette syndrome, osteoarthritis and congestive cardiac failure, was riding his scooter without a helmet in July last year when he lost control of the vehicle and it rolled, throwing him on to the road.

The 73-year-old, who lived in a unit opposite the Beaconsfield District Health Service after his parents passed away, died three days later at Launceston General Hospital.

In his findings released this week, Coroner Simon Cooper said Mr Stewart had used his scooter safely for several years before the accident.

He added Mr Stewart followed a set of “Keith’s Rules for Scooter Use” including that he wear a high-visibility vest and a helmet, navigate to the flattest pathways possible and not go outside a 50km/h or 60km/h zone.

On the day of his death, Mr Stewart travelled “rather fast” at a speed between 27km/h to 29km/h.

When he was assisted by a nurse, Mr Stewart muttered words to her about having “pressed the wrong pedal”.

“Mr Stewart disengaged the gear lock on the scooter and freewheeled down the driveway, enabling it to build up speed,” Mr Cooper said.

Although Mr Stewart died from a head injury, a pathologist noted he also suffered congestive heart failure.

Mr Cooper said it was “certainly possible” Mr Stewart may not have died if he had been wearing a helmet.