Vic: Aust. Grand Prix Corp. denies race marshal's death hushed
MELBOURNE, Feb 11 AAP - The Australian Grand Prix Corporation today denied that confirmationof the death of a race marshal was delayed to avoid stopping last year's race.
Coroner Graeme Johnstone, who last week delivered his findings on the death of GrahamFrancis Beveridge, was critical of how his death was certified and said it was of "seriousconcern" that the medical records had been altered.
Mr Beveridge died shortly after he was hit by a wheel but resuscitation attempts continuedin a helicopter to the nearby Alfred Hospital, where his death was officially certified.
AGPC chief executive John Harnden said staff at the trackside medical centre had followedlong-standing protocols that were no longer appropriate, given advances in the facilitiesavailable trackside.
Under the protocol, "in the unlikely event of a fatality at the track, the patientwill be transferred to the Alfred Hospital and subsequently certified deceased."
He told ABC radio the protocol was to ensure every possible assistance was given tosomeone injured until they got to the best care possible in a permanent facility.
Asked whether resuscitation continued on Mr Beveridge after he was dead as part ofa "charade" to prevent the race being stopped, Mr Harnden said: "I don't believe that'sthe case."
"It was never envisaged, back when the protocol was put in place, that the medicalprocedures that were carried out on Mr Beveridge would be carried out at the tracksidemedical centre, it's as simple as that."
Mr Harnden said the protocols had been changed.
AAP lmw/jlw/ns/bwl
KEYWORD: MARSHAL
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