Latest victim dies in an Eastern Health hospital following a severe weather event that triggered a mass asthma outbreak

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A sixth person has died almost a week after Melbourne was hit by an unprecedented thunderstorm asthma outbreak.

The patient, who had been in a critical condition, died in an Eastern Health hospital on Saturday night as a result of thunderstorm asthma causing other “medical complications”, a hospital spokeswoman said.

“There have now been six deaths that may have occurred as a result of conditions relating to the thunderstorm asthma events on Monday,” the health department said in a statement on Sunday.

Thunderstorm asthma: 'You're talking an event equivalent to a terrorist attack' Read more

Five patients remain in intensive care in Melbourne hospitals. Three are in a critical condition. A further 12 are in hospital battling a variety of respiratory and related conditions.

Monday evening’s thunderstorm saw extreme winds and air moisture break pollen particles up into small enough pieces to enter peoples lungs.

Four of the victims have been named as Noble Park father-of-two Clarence Leo, 35-year-old Apollo Papadopoulos, law student Hope Carnevali, 20, and year 12 student Omar Moujalled.

The inspector general for emergency management will investigate the cause of those deaths and his findings will form part of an overarching review that will examine how Ambulance Victoria and emergency services responded to and how the community was notified of the unfolding crisis.

Thunderstorm asthma: how seasonal weather can affect human health Read more

The news of the sixth death came as the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, and the health minister, Jill Hennessy, announced a $500m funding boost for the state’s ambulance services.

The package – which the government says is in addition to $144m provided in the 2016/17 budget – will result in 450 new paramedics being employed over three years.

Labor also plans to establish six new “super response centres” across Melbourne to meet a growing demand driven by population growth.

“We know that in an emergency every second counts,” Hennessy said in a statement on Sunday. “That’s why we’re giving our paramedics the new resources they need, where they are needed most.”

Monday’s asthma storm overwhelmed emergency services and hospitals.

Paramedics dealt with an unprecedented 1,900 emergency calls in five hours on Monday evening as the phenomenon swept the state.

At one point there were 140 code one cases occurring at the same time. Melbourne hospitals across Monday and Tuesday treated more than 8,500 patients.