Viral Wentworth Hospital video raises questions about death of woman filmed pleading for help
By Karen Singh
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Durban - The family of an elderly woman who was seen struggling to breathe and screaming for help at Wentworth Hospital in a video which has been circulating on social media have confirmed that she died.
Her nephew, Allon Pretorius said Hawkey’s daughter Theresa was only informed of her mother’s death on January 8 when she went to the hospital to visit her.
Pretorius said Hawkey’s death and the alleged poor treatment she received was very distressing to the family.
Woman screaming for help in Durban hospital viral video has died
By Se-Anne Rall
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DURBAN – A woman seen screaming for help in a viral video filmed at a Durban hospital has died. Her family have since confirmed that they are seeking legal advice on how to handle the matter.
Rowena Hawkey, 69, was admitted to the Wentworth Hospital last week after she encountered breathing problems and her asthma pump was of no help.
Hawkey s nephew, Allon Pretorius, said Hawkey s daughter, Teresa, left her at the hospital after she was admitted and did not hear from the hospital again.
He said Hawkey died on January 6, shortly after the video was recorded.
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The elderly woman who was pleading for help, in a widely shared video taken at Wentworth Hospital, has died.
Rowena Hawkey (69) is seen in the clip seemingly in extreme respiratory anguish, pleading for assistance. Patients are shown lying on the floor and hunched in chairs with no help being administered by medical staff.
Hawkey is shown shouting, I can t breathe! Please get me out of here. Hello, hello. Please get this [indistinguishable]. I m going to die like this. This tube here, please give it to me. I ve asked everybody to help me. No one wants to help me. nobody. I can t live like this, she cries.