Dog park error has a sad end

GOOD Samaritans are not completely exempt from prosecution in Queensland if things go wrong when they try to help in an emergency, but legal experts say courts are understanding. So they should be. Even if a bystander at an accident scene is not a trained medical worker or member of an emergency services or volunteer organisation, the community would expect any person capable of rendering reasonable assistance would do so. It is part of an unstated moral code. The words “Do unto others…’’ should ring a bell.

But we accept there has to be common sense in this. Someone affected by alcohol or drugs should not become involved, just as a person with no training in first aid does not have to try to perform miracles if they feel completely out of their depth.

However as anyone who has participated in a first aid or CPR course knows, it is better to do something – anything – than nothing.

Making a phone call for emergency assistance is a good start, and that is the least the woman whose dog knocked over an elderly Gold Coast man last month could have done.

She knew he was injured. She did at least inquire how he was. But instead of sticking around to help, she left 85-year-old Des Mason to his fate in an Arundel dog park, where he was lying with a broken hip. Fortunately for Mr Mason and his wife Audrey, a genuine good Samaritan happened along and help was called.

As Mr Mason told the Bulletin from his hospital bed after doctors performed hip replacement surgery, he did not believe the dog was motivated by anything other than being playful.

But as philosophical and as cheery as he was at that time, sadly Mr Mason died at the weekend.

We like to think our city has a caring heart. Certainly the wonderful person who stopped to help, Julie Dimmick, has lived up to that.

Regrettably though, there is someone out there who turned her back when help was needed most.

It would be sad to think she fled through fear of litigation or concern her dog might be impounded.

If that is the case, she has to live with it – and that only adds to the tragedy of what really was just a terrible accident.