Coroner's inquest into death of Ontario teen at provincial school for blind to begin next month
A coroner's inquest into the death of an Ontario teen at a provincially-run school for the blind more than three years ago is scheduled to begin next month.
Samuel Brown, who was born with a genetic condition that left him blind and deaf, attended W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind in Brantford, Ont., and was 18 years old when he died. He lived on campus during the week and would return home on the weekends—but on Feb. 9, 2018, his parents learned that Brown would not be making the trip again.
“He came home to us on Feb. 2, he was very joyful, vibrant. He had no issues of anything that we had to be concerned about,” his mother Andrea Brown said back in 2020. “He left on Feb. 4, joyful, we hugged him, we kissed him, we prayed with him and sent him off.”
“We didn’t have any concerns because he wasn’t sick or anything like that.”
At the time, the family had been presented with conflicting reports from medical officials on how Brown died. A coroner's report said he died of natural causes, but an autopsy requested by the family concluded he died of pneumonia.
As a result of the findings and the family's advocacy, the Ontario coroner's office agreed on May 19 to execute an inquest into the death.
Since then, new details have been released by the family that shed some light into what happened to Brown.
An ambulance report, which was provided to CTV News Toronto by the family's lawyer on the three-year anniversary of the teen's death, noted that Brown was experiencing labored breathing around 5 a.m. An hour later, staff found the teen unresponsive with vomit in his airway.
“They rolled him into a recovery position and called 911,” the report said.
Emergency crews conducted CPR until paramedics arrived and Brown was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A day earlier Brown’s parents were notified that he was refusing to get out of bed for dinner.
Andrea Brown is seen with her son Samuel Brown in this photo provided by family.
The inquest into Brown's death is now scheduled to begin around 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 15.
"The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Mr. Brown’s death," a statement issued on Wednesday read. "The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths."
The inquest, which will be held via video conference, will hear from about 13 witnesses and is expected to last five days.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Police in Paris detain a man wearing fake explosives vest at Iran's Consulate
A man wearing a fake explosive vest and making threats was detained Friday outside the Iranian Consulate in Paris after police locked down the area, authorities said. His motive was unclear.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.