2-Year-Old Reportedly Dies After Waiting Hours for Hospital Bed: 'We Were Ignored,' Mom Claims

Mar. 15, 2025

The parents of a 2-year-old boy who died while seeking treatment at a hospital in Australia are speaking out, accusing the facility of failing their son “at every level.”

“He died a cruel death at the hands of a hospital that failed him,” mom Elouise Massa said of her late son Joe in an interview with9News.

On Sept. 14, 2024, a weakened Joe was taken to Northern Beaches Hospital in Sydney after having vomited throughout the night,Australian Broadcasting Corporation(ABC News) reported.

The family said that Joe was suffering from majorhypovolemia, a condition in which the body loses fluid, which is crucial to maintaining organ function, according toThe Guardian.

However, according to the family, after being admitted to the hospital, Joe was not given a bed for over two hours.

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“We were ignored,” Elouise told ABC Radio Sydney. “As soon as we stepped foot into that hospital, Joe had no chance of survival.”

More than three hours after he was admitted to the hospital, Joe suffered a heart attack, according to the outlets. His was taken off life support two days later due to the brain damage he sustained, reported ABC News.

“He had his whole life ahead of him,” the family said in a statement shared with theGuardian, “and we trusted Northern Beaches hospital to provide the care he needed. Instead, he was failed at every level.”

The report, which was submitted to the New South Wales Ministry of Health on Dec. 20, pointed out a number of missteps in the case, according to Sky News,news.com.auand theNew York Post.

“The doctors and nurses in our emergency department are exceptionally dedicated, and devoted to providing high quality care. They are devastated at Joe’s death, and committed to implementing all recommendations to prevent an incident like this from happening again,” they added, noting that the hospital will continue to “cooperate in full with any further review or investigations into this tragic incident.”

In his statement, Park called what happened a “terrible tragedy.”

“In the last 24 hours I have discussed with the Secretary of NSW Health to understand actions being taken in response to this tragedy,” Park added. “I have made it clear to NSW Health all recommendations need to be implemented in full and as quickly as possible.”

Continuing, Park added, “As the Minister for Health, this is among the worst possible things that can happen in our health system – a young child who should be with us is no longer alive. I never want any parent to go through this."

source: people.com