Dean Lovett’s family are still searching for answers about their son’s death. By Melissa Meehan
FOUR years ago Dean Lovett walked into the Casey Hospital Emergency Ward with his mum and dad with little more than cold symptoms.
They were joking around, hoping they would be home in time to watch the wrestling on television. Sadly, Dean Lovett never walked out of the hospital.
The former Berwick High School student died at just 21 years old.
His parents and friends were left with the shock of his death and many unanswered questions.
They believe his death was a result of misdiagnosis – but that’s now a matter for the coroner.
On Monday a coronial inquest into Dean’s death will begin.
His family, particularly his father Ted and mother Wendy and sister Amy have
campaigned hard for an inquest, hoping it would provide the answers
they need to move on.
“It’s like playing monopoly without a quarter of the board,” Mr Lovett said.
For a week before he died, Mr Lovett said Dean was fighting the flu but was well enough to attend TAFE.
It wasn’t until the Sunday, Father’s Day, when they thought it might be something more sinister. They rushed him to Casey Hospital.
“He coughed up a bit of blood and we took him to the hospital,” Mr Lovett said.
The keen gamer and wrestling fan was only two months away from completing his Business Administration Degree.
“His passing was just so unexpected,” Mrs Lovett said. “He was a pretty healthy boy, he had a gym set up in the garage, he didn’t drink or smoke or do drugs – he wouldn’t even drink tea or coffee.”
His family still grieves for Dean and hopes the coronial inquiry will give them answers.
“I grieve every day,” Mr Lovett said.
“Every day I look at his photo and tell him sorry.
“You think your pain will ease but nothing can help you forget – it’s
ruined our family, it was always the four of us.”
Mr Lovett said it was hard to move on when so many questions were unanswered. He said the family found it difficult to enjoy themselves without feeling guilty that Dean wasn’t be there to share it with them.
“We just hope the inquiry will give us some answers and we’ll be able to move on, not forget about what happened, but move on and hopefully stop something similar affecting another family,” Mr Lovett said.
“We are determined to go the distance.”
Medical negligence principal at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Kathryn Booth will represent the Lovett family at the inquiry.
“The Lovett family has been waiting almost four years for a clear picture of what happened to Dean at Casey Hospital and deserves to know what happened to their son -– why Dean was able to walk into the hospital but never walked out,” Ms Booth said.
“Maurice Blackburn is supporting Wendy and Ted in their quest for answers through the coronial proceedings starting on Monday, and hopefully those answers also help prevent this type of tragedy from happening again.”
Southern Health was contacted by the News but declined to comment citing legal reasons.
