A deceased man from Durbanville was discovered in his parked car at the Durbanville Mediclinic on Friday – three days after he visited his ill mother at the hospital.
Residents now question the security at the hospital and why nobody noticed the parked car at the hospital for three days and nights.
The 49-year-old man visited his mother last Tuesday evening during visiting hours. He was reported missing by his sister on Friday afternoon, according to a spokesperson of Durbanville police.
‘Sitting in hot car’
The deceased was discovered by a member of the public during Friday morning when he saw someone sitting in the closed hot car in the last parking bay facing Wellington Road, next to the filling station, a source known to TygerBurger, who wants to stay anonymous, says.
The police broke the window to gain access to the body, she says.
According to the police spokesperson, the man apparently died of a heart attack. She was not aware that the police had to break the window, the police spokesperson says.
“This raises concern of the level of responsiveness and alertness of the hospital security. Did the night shift not think to investigate a vehicle parked in the parking area long after visiting hours or for the days and nights following?” the source asks.
‘Life might have been saved’
“Staff have designated parking areas and do not make use of public parking. Did the day shift not notice a person sitting in a closed vehicle on a very hot summer’s day and find it strange? Did they not notice this for three days and three nights?
“This person’s life might have been saved if the security investigated a parked car still in the parking area long after visiting hours on the Tuesday evening,” she says.
The source refers to an incident in September 2023 when family and friends who visited patients at the hospital were shocked after a gun-wielding man gained access to the wards.
“Homeless people were found hiding in the toilets on multiple occasions after visiting hours at 20:00. They enter the hospital during normal hospital hours to make use of the toilets and have been found roaming the passages freely. No security is on duty in the hospital passages,” she says.
Tinted windows
In response to the complaints Mediclinic confirmed in a media statement that a man was found deceased in his vehicle last Friday.
“While our parking areas are at capacity for long periods due to day patients, overnight stays and visitors, the unfortunate incident was not immediately identified due to the position of the vehicle and slightly tinted windows.
“Safety and security are a top priority for us. We have launched an internal investigation into the matter and are assisting the police with their investigation.
“Mediclinic can confirm that the deceased was a family member of a patient that has received emotional support from Mediclinic following the discovery. We continue to engage where relevant,” was stated.
