Lack of oxygen mask contributed to death

A brain trauma patient died after a student nurse neglected to put on his oxygen mask, a coroner was told yesterday.

Li Yat-sing, 45, a hawker control officer, was injured in a traffic accident on November 9, 1997, leaving him in a vegetative state.

On May 13 last year, Li had a lung infection and low blood-oxygen level and was admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital for oxygen therapy.

Niece Wong Po-yee told the Coroner's Court he was not wearing an oxygen mask when she visited on May 16.

She said student nurse Lee Shuk-man told her that he did not need one because he could breathe on his own.

Li died shortly after Ms Wong left.