A 44-year-old Indian-origin man died of a suspected cardiac arrest in the Canadian city of Edmonton after repeatedly complaining of intense chest pain and allegedly waiting for more than eight hours without receiving definitive medical treatment. The deceased, Prashant Sreekumar, a father of three, had described his pain as unbearable and far beyond normal limits, yet his condition was reportedly not treated as an emergency. His death has raised serious questions about hospital response and emergency care protocols.
The incident occurred on December 22 while Prashant was at work, when he suddenly developed severe chest pain. Recognising the seriousness of his condition, his client immediately drove him to Grey Nuns Hospital in southeast Edmonton. Upon arrival, Prashant was assessed at the triage desk and then directed to sit in the waiting area instead of being taken in for urgent treatment, according to reports cited by Global News. Shortly thereafter, his father, Kumar Sreekumar, reached the hospital to be by his son’s side.
While waiting, Prashant repeatedly told his father that the pain was unbearable. Kumar recalled his son saying, “Papa, I cannot bear the pain,” clearly indicating extreme distress. Prashant also communicated the same to hospital staff, emphasising that his pain level was “15 out of 10,” far exceeding the standard pain scale. Despite these complaints, hospital staff conducted an electrocardiogram (ECG) and reportedly told him that the results showed nothing significant. He was then given Tylenol and asked to continue waiting in the emergency room.
As the hours passed, nurses intermittently checked Prashant’s blood pressure, which, according to his father, continued to rise to alarming levels. Kumar described the readings as dangerously high, saying it appeared to be “through the roof.” Despite these warning signs and ongoing complaints of chest pain, Prashant remained in the waiting area for several more hours without being admitted for further evaluation or treatment.
After waiting for approximately eight hours, Prashant was finally called into the emergency room. According to his father, the situation deteriorated almost immediately. Within seconds of being seated, Prashant stood up, clutched his chest, and collapsed. Medical staff rushed to assist him, but despite their efforts, he could not be revived and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
Prashant Sreekumar is survived by his wife and three young children, aged three, 10, and 14. His sudden death has left the family devastated and searching for answers. Grey Nuns Hospital issued a brief statement expressing sympathy to the family but declined to comment on the specifics of the case, citing patient privacy. The hospital said that patient safety and care remain its top priorities.
Meanwhile, a video circulating on social media shows Prashant’s wife recounting the ordeal and alleging serious lapses in care. In the video, she claims that his blood pressure had reached 210 during the wait, yet he was still only given Tylenol and asked to remain seated. India Today stated that it could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. As public attention grows, the incident has sparked concern over emergency care delays and the handling of patients reporting severe cardiac symptoms.
