ATIKOKAN — The inquest examining the death of Aaron Fisk has determined his death to be accidental.
The jury made nine recommendations largely focused on enhanced training to prevent more deaths under similar circumstances.
Late Thursday afternoon, the jury returned with its findings after deliberating for the majority of the afternoon.
The public inquest examined the death of 37-year-old Aaron Fisk, of Atikokan, after he collapsed in a holding cell in the Atikokan OPP detachment on Oct. 18, 2020. He died at the Atikokan General Hospital that evening.
Fisk died of an overdose, specifically acute fentanyl, methadone, zopiclone, pregabalin and diazepam toxicity.
Eight of the five-member jury’s nine recommendations were were centred around training and equipment and aimed at the provincial government, the Ministry of the Solicitor General and the OPP.
The first recommendation is to review and enhance training for OPP officer and civilian guards responding to a person in custody who has fallen or collapsed and efforts to rouse that person are unsuccessful.
The jury emphasized the need to call for emergency medical services (EMS) immediately whether it’s perceived the person is either unconscious or sleeping.
Officers and civilian guards should also be trained thoroughly on the use of naloxone to respond to overdoses, including how to monitor a person in custody for signs of intoxication, including by opioids, and how to recognize the signs of a suspected overdose.
Another recommendation is for the OPP to develop scenario-based training based on the circumstances of Fisk’s death and to reference them in an annual review.
All OPP detachments should also have first aid kits, an automatic external defibrillator (AED) and Naloxone readily available and visible in the cell areas.
The jury also recommended the OPP seek funding to support implementing these recommendations.
The jury’s last recommendation was to the Chief Coroner of Ontario — "The Office of the Chief Coroner should consider conducting inquests in a timelier manner from the time of death."
