In a shocking turn of events, an inquest has revealed that 87-year-old Jean Langan died from head injuries after being violently blown over by the downwash from a landing helicopter at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, UK. The tragic incident occurred on March 4, 2022 as Mrs. Langan, a retired civil servant, was leaving the hospital after a routine appointment to have her hearing aid fitted.
According to a statement read by the coroner, Mrs. Langan and her niece Gael Hill were walking back to their car in the hospital parking lot when a search and rescue helicopter carrying a patient came in to land at the nearby helipad. The powerful downwash generated by the helicopter’s rotors suddenly swept the elderly woman off her feet, causing her to fall backwards and strike her head on the ground.
“Sudden and Violent Death” Shocks Family
Mrs. Langan’s family expressed their profound shock and grief over the “sudden and violent” manner of her death. They described the cherished matriarch as an active, efficient woman who “doted on her children and grandchildren” and walked the family dog every day. “She would have hated the publicity that the circumstances surrounding her death have generated,” the family statement noted. “As a result, she lost the quiet dignity that she would have chosen.”
The inquest jury was shown CCTV footage capturing the horrific moment the downwash struck Mrs. Langan and her niece in the car park. Bystanders can be seen rushing to help the stricken women as they lay on the ground before paramedics arrived on the scene. But despite receiving prompt medical attention, Mrs. Langan succumbed to her injuries about three and a half hours later.
Pathologist’s Findings
Dr. Amanda Jeffery, a Home Office pathologist who examined Mrs. Langan’s body, testified that the slight 7-stone 12-pound woman had suffered “significant” head trauma in the fall. “Mrs. Langan had attended a routine audiology appointment at Derriford Hospital with her niece and was returning to their parked car when a helicopter came in to land,” Dr. Jeffery explained. “Mrs. Langan was swept off her feet, causing her to fall backwards on to the ground.” The official medical cause of death was determined to be a head injury.
Helicopter Safety Protocols Under Scrutiny
The distressing circumstances of Mrs. Langan’s death have raised serious concerns about the safety protocols surrounding hospital helipads and the potential dangers posed to vulnerable patients and visitors by incoming helicopters. While these emergency flights are a vital lifeline for critically ill patients, could more be done to protect civilians on the ground from the hazardous effects of downwash? Should hospitals cordon off larger areas or erect protective barriers around helipads to prevent such accidents?
“Hospitals must urgently review their helipad safety procedures in light of this tragedy to ensure the wellbeing of patients and the public is protected,” said a source close to the case who asked to remain anonymous. “No one should have to worry about their physical safety while attending a medical appointment or visiting a loved one.”
Unanswered Questions and Potential Negligence
As the inquest into Mrs. Langan’s death unfolds over the coming days, several key questions remain unanswered:
- Were adequate safety warnings in place around the helipad?
- Was the car park situated dangerously close to the helicopter landing site?
- Were hospital staff aware of Mrs. Langan’s presence in the vicinity before the helicopter approached?
- Could the tragedy have been averted if different flight paths or landing procedures had been used?
Depending on the answers to these questions, Derriford Hospital could potentially face charges of negligence. It is likely the Langan family will want to pursue justice and compensation for their devastating loss once the full facts come to light. Legal experts will be watching the proceedings closely.
“There may be grounds for a significant negligence claim if the inquest finds the hospital failed in its duty of care to Mrs. Langan by allowing her to be in harm’s way,” noted a prominent local lawyer who specializes in medical negligence cases. “An elderly lady in her 80s should not have to fear for her life while on hospital property.”
A Tragedy That Should Never Have Happened
Ultimately, the heartbreaking death of Jean Langan represents a tragedy that should never have been allowed to happen. An ordinary day turned into a nightmare due to a hospital’s failure to properly mitigate a foreseeable risk. While nothing can undo Mrs. Langan’s senseless death or lessen her family’s pain, it can only be hoped that the inquest will provide them with some answers and a measure of closure. More importantly, the findings must spur systemic changes to helipad safety rules so that no one else suffers such a needless, violent end on what should be a place of care and healing.
As the inquest continues in Exeter, the thoughts of a nation are with Mrs. Langan’s loved ones in their time of unimaginable grief. Her life may have been cut brutally short, but her memory and the critical safety lessons from this tragedy must not be blown away and forgotten like a piece of paper in the downwash.
