‘Papa, I can’t bear the pain’: Indian-origin man dies after 8-hour wait in Canada hospital ER

Highlights:

• Indian-origin man dies after waiting over eight hours in ER
• Victim complained of extreme chest pain but was asked to keep waiting
• Family says ECG showed no urgency, pain treated only with Tylenol
• Man collapsed moments after being called into treatment area
• Hospital says case is under medical examiner review

A 44-year-old Indian-origin man has died of a suspected cardiac arrest after waiting for more than eight hours in the emergency room of a Canadian hospital, sparking outrage and renewed concerns over delays in emergency medical care.

According to a report by Global News, Prashant Sreekumar began experiencing severe chest pain while at work on December 22. Alarmed by his condition, a client drove him to Grey Nuns Hospital in southeast Edmonton. Prashant was checked in at triage and directed to wait in the emergency room seating area.

His father, Kumar Sreekumar, arrived shortly afterward and was shocked by his son’s condition. Kumar recalled that Prashant was in visible distress and repeatedly told him, “Papa, I cannot bear the pain.” The family said Prashant rated his pain as “15 out of 10” and informed both nurses and hospital staff about the severity of his symptoms.

Hospital staff conducted an electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess his heart function. However, according to the family, Prashant was told the test did not show anything alarming and that he would need to continue waiting. He was also offered Tylenol to manage his pain.

As the hours passed, Kumar said nurses periodically checked Prashant’s blood pressure, which continued to rise. “It went up, up, and up,” Kumar said, describing the readings as dangerously high. Despite this, Prashant remained in the waiting room for more than eight hours without seeing a doctor.

When Prashant was finally called into the treatment area, tragedy struck almost immediately. “After sitting maybe 10 seconds, he looked at me, stood up, clutched his chest, and collapsed,” Kumar recalled. Nurses rushed to help and called for assistance, but Prashant could not be revived. He was later pronounced dead from an apparent cardiac arrest.

Prashant leaves behind his wife and three children, aged three, 10, and 14. His family described him as a devoted father who loved traveling with his children and was known for his playful, warm personality. “He lived for his family,” Kumar said. “Anyone who met him said they had never known a better person.”

Family friends and community members have expressed devastation and disbelief. Varinder Bhullar, a close family friend who also worked with Prashant professionally, said the loss has deeply affected the community. “We expect better from the hospital and the health-care system,” Bhullar said.

Grey Nuns Hospital is operated by Covenant Health. In a statement to Global News, the organization said it could not comment on specific patient care due to privacy rules but confirmed the case is under review by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The hospital also extended condolences to the family.

As the family mourns, they say they will always struggle with how Prashant died—alone in pain inside a hospital, without ever being seen by a doctor. “They took my baby for nothing,” Kumar said.