A man who relied on an incision in his neck to breathe has died after paper tissue was found in his airway, the Hospital Authority has revealed.
The 88-year-old was discovered unconscious on Wednesday, shortly after arriving at Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam, where he was due to receive radiotherapy.
According to the authority spokesman, he had been transferred by non-emergency ambulance from Tung Wah Hospital, Sheung Wan, where he was an in-patient.
Before he set off, medical staff carried out regular suction to clear the airway of phlegm.
At that time all vital signs of the patient had been normal, the spokesman said. En route to Pok Fu Lam, an ambulance attendant had also checked his pulse, which was the standard practice.
The man was found unconscious by staff at Queen Mary Hospital at 11.30am and immediate attempts were made to resuscitate him.