Tragedy struck at HMP Parc in Bridgend when 73-year-old David Maggs, serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife, suffered a fatal heart attack in his cell. The shocking part? Prison staff took a staggering six minutes to locate the defibrillator—even though it was on the same wing. The delay highlights the critical need for all prison staff to be familiar with the location of emergency equipment, according to the prisons ombudsman.
Maggs, who had been imprisoned for the brutal stabbing of his wife Linda in 2021, didn’t survive the incident. A review into the tragic event has since spurred recommendations for service improvements, yet it seems these wouldn’t have changed the outcome for Maggs.
During his imprisonment, Maggs did receive commendable care from the prison physiotherapy service, but it wasn’t enough to stave off his ultimate demise from natural causes, which included a blocked blood vessel in the lungs along with gallbladder and bile duct issues.
In response to the incident, G4S, the company responsible for managing Parc, has updated its defibrillator policy. They insist there were no non-clinical issues affecting Maggs’ death that required further action.
This isn’t the first time Parc prison has faced scrutiny. An alarming report earlier this year highlighted rampant drug problems leading to numerous inmate deaths. Last year alone, HMP Parc had 17 inmate deaths, the highest of any prison in the UK.
The tragic story of the Maggs’ fatal heart attack serves as a stark reminder of the importance of emergency readiness in our prisons. It paints a grim picture of life behind bars and the necessity for swift and effective medical response in times of crisis.