Inert Dziekanski didn't merit medical response, airport official testifies

Potentially life-saving medical responders at the Vancouver airport were not called the night Robert Dziekanski died because they might have been needed in the event of some other emergency, a public inquiry heard Tuesday.

Robert Ginter, the airport's response co-ordinator, testified at the inquiry into Dziekanski's death that when the Polish immigrant went inert after being stunned by an RCMP Taser, he assumed it was because Dziekanski had surrendered — and not because he was unconscious.

Had the airport's Emergency Response Services, or ERS, been dispatched to check on Dziekanski, the airport could have been left flat-footed, Ginter said.

But Dziekanski had indeed become unconscious after being shocked by the stun gun, the inquiry heard, and the situation gave rise to a Code 3 — or high-priority — medical situation.

A Code 3 triggers an automatic requirement to make a priority announcement that would bring the ERS, the inquiry heard. But Ginter made the decision to simply call an ambulance.

Breaking protocols

Inquiry lawyer Patrick McGowan asked Ginter for an explanation for breaking the protocol and disobeying the standing order.

"It would expose the airport on secondary issues. Our ability to respond to any other issue, whether it be a fire alarm, debris on the runway, any issue that required an operational response, we would not have had anyone to respond to that incident," Ginter replied.

Ginter disobeyed a second standing order when he failed to obtain an automated external defibrillator in response to the Code 3, the inquiry heard.

He testified he didn't deem the defibrillator necessary because he believed Dziekanski was still conscious.

Ginter further testified Tuesday that he was satisfied that city firefighters who were also dispatched would arrive as quickly as the airport's own medical responders.

Dziekanski died in the morning hours of Oct. 14, 2007, shortly after he was shocked up to five times by a Taser. He had became agitated and was throwing furniture in the airport's international arrivals lounge, although when the four Mounties who were deployed to deal with him arrived at the scene, he had calmed considerably, the inquiry has heard.

Earlier disagreement

Hours before the Taser incident, Ginter had a disagreement with Andrew Caldwell of the ERS over a pothole in the airport runway, the inquiry heard.

Ginter asked the ERS to repair it, but his request was rebuffed and Ginter admitted he felt "frustrated" that the situation was not being immediately rectified. The ERS eventually agreed to fix the pothole the following morning when more staff were available.

Inquiry lawyer McGowan asked Ginter what role the dispute had in his decision not to call the ERS for Dziekanski.

"It had absolutely no role or bearing," Ginter replied.

Ginter gave still another reason for not calling the ERS. He insisted the situation, which he described as the most violent he's ever seen, was better suited to police.

Earlier Tuesday, an airport security supervisor testified that Dziekanski's movements moments before he died resembled those of people who lose their breath while choking. Trevor Enchelmaier said that his first aid experience has allowed him to see people choke to the point where they spasm and kick uncontrollably.

Enchelmaier said he restrained Dziekanski's legs as police officers placed handcuffs on him.