'Fragile and scared' woman who starved to death in her home was let down, neighbour says

The neighbour of a 71-year-old Australian woman who starved to death in her home says she was let down by authorities.

Suzie Moeakiola - who lived across the road from the woman for two years in Bridgewater, Tasmania - says she would only notice her neighbour leave the house in a taxi every two weeks to go to the supermarket.

She says that the old woman would return with 'toilet paper and tissues — you wouldn't see food'.

Moeakiola was worried about her neighbour ever since moving in, ABC reports.

"Her lawn was as high as her back fence and there were snakes coming out," she said. "She was very fragile and very scared."

ABC

Opting to knock on her door to offer help, the woman was left terrified.

"She was too scared, so I didn't go back again," Moeakiola said.

Moeakiola contacted the woman's housing provider, while another neighbour also contacted the police.

In December 2021, three officers visited the property and forced their way in after she failed to answer the door.

However, when police visited the home and performed a welfare check, they did not call the ambulance when discovering the elderly woman in poor health.

One month later, she was found her dead in her home weighing just 35 kilograms.

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Coroner Simon Cooper admitted police should have called an ambulance after they conducted the welfare check, discovering that the woman was 'gravely ill — both mentally and physically'.

Body-cam footage filmed by police showed her hair was 'matted into large clumps' and her 'eyes were glazed' .

Tasmanian Opposition Leader Rebecca White said: "That poor woman was lonely and isolated and clearly suffering from mental ill health, and should have been able to access support and maybe would be alive today."

In a statement, Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner, Operations, Adrian Bodnar, said: "Specific instructions are now included in the Tasmania Police Manual regarding calling the mental health services helpline for advice and referral whenever Tasmania Police has concerns about the mental health of a person officers have had contact with.

"All police officers have also been provided with advice emphasising that the Atlas computer system does not generate automatic notifications to mental health services."

ABC

The chief executive of Centacare Evolve Housing (CEH), Ben Wilson, added: "We visited this woman, who was a tenant of ours, on several occasions throughout her tenancy with us.

"She was known as someone who strongly protected her own privacy, which unfortunately meant that she refused to engage with CEH beyond our role as her housing provider."

Tyla has contacted Tasmania Police for additional comment.

If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone