A paramedic who claims she was locked in a ruined house at night with a dead body in a scene reminiscent of a horror movie is suing the state government over her traumatic experience.
Naomi O’Callaghan, 43, was called to a remote property in Giru, near Townsville in northern Queensland, on May 29, 2011 following reports that a man had died.
The paramedic was called to treat an 80-year-old man, but claims that when she arrived at the rural property she was greeted by a man with a shovel and was surrounded by dogs.
The man took her to the house where she discovered the elderly man’s body before they allegedly closed the door behind her.
The man’s body appeared to have been deceased for some time.
Ms O’Callaghan claims she feared for her safety after the man who greeted her allegedly told her that if she made any sudden movements the dogs would attack her.
Naomi O’Callaghan (pictured) is suing the state government after she allegedly endured an ordeal at a derelict rural property where she discovered an elderly man who had been dead for some time.
Mrs O’Callaghan has lodged a claim in townsville The Supreme Court is asking the state government for $1.3 million in damages on the basis that she suffered a traumatic experience while on duty.
She alleges that she was frightened by the presence of the aggressive dogs and feared that there were other animals and people on the farm that could have posed a threat to her safety, according to a police report. mail.
The claim also claims that Ms O’Callaghan could have suffered injuries due to various hazards that occurred within the home.
She claims the “life-threatening situation” caused her post-traumatic stress disorder and also alleged the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) did not send paramedics back to the scene because they knew the man was dead.
In her claim, Ms O’Callaghan records that she drove to the Bruce Highway to alert police to the incident before returning to the property with officers to confirm the man had died.
Two months later, he attended a late-night call at another remote property near Giru following reports of the death of a 36-year-old man who had committed suicide.
O’Callaghan found the man in a shed surrounded by various items, including two gas bottles and a bowl of white powder.
She claims she attempted to leave the property but her vehicle’s engine would not start.
During a separate incident, Ms O’Callaghan attempted to leave another remote property after discovering a dead man, but the ambulance’s engine (file image) would not start.
He claims a QAS radio control room staff member allegedly told him “if you hear banjo music, get the hell out of Dodge” in reference to a scene from the American horror film “Deliverance”.
Ms O’Callaghan has worked for QAS since 2007 as a “single ambulance officer” in rural northern Queensland.
He claims the QAS should have advised him to wait for police to arrive at the properties and deem them safe before he could confirm the men’s deaths.
Ms O’Callaghan also claims she was dismissed from her job in June 2019.
A date for the case to be heard in court has not yet been set and a defense has not yet been filed.