Paramedic says Tasered man already dead when help arrived

March 26, 2009
By Gerry Bellett, Vancouver Sun

VANCOUVER -- A paramedic called to Vancouver International Airport to assist Robert Dziekanski said the Polish man was dead when he arrived.

Allan Maciak said he was told by RCMP Cpl. Monty Robinson that Dziekanski had only been tasered once.

Maciak was testifying Thursday at the the Braidwood Inquiry, which is probing Dziekanski's death at Vancouver International Airport after 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 14, 2007.

Maciak said he could clearly see that Dziekanski had turned blue as he lay on the floor surrounded by RCMP officers and Richmond firefighters.

Dziekanski, 40, had left Poland about 30 hours before he died and came to Canada to live with his mother.

He had never been on a plane before and was unable to find his mother at the airport.

She was waited hours but returned home after being told by officials that her son, who spoke no English, could not be located in the customs area, which is not accessible to the public.

Robinson and three RCMP constables attended the airport to respond to a 911 report of an intoxicated man throwing luggage around at the airport.