An inquest is underway into the death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland, who dies after being fatally Tasered by a NSW police officer inside her aged care home in Cooma. The inquest follows the death of Nowland in May 2023, when police were called to Yallambee Lodge nursing home. Multiple reports say the proceedings are set to examine the circumstances surrounding the Taser firing and what the response involved.
Several outlets report that dementia training for emergency services is a central issue. The coroner is expected to consider how police, ambulance officers, and aged care staff are trained to respond to people experiencing aggressive dementia-related behaviours, and whether any gaps in training may have contributed to the events.
Reporting also notes that a paramedic appearing at the inquest has offered an apology to Nowland’s family. The inquest is described as a short, multi-day process, and aims to address “outstanding questions” about the incident and potential changes to procedures or training.
