80-Year-Old Left Outside in Snowstorm All Night

After a hospital visit, 80-year-old Kaj Hake was driven home by taxi. This time, however, he did not receive any help all the way inside, and was left in the snowfall for eight hours. When he was found, his body temperature was 33 degrees Celsius.

Five years ago, when Kaj Hake suffered a ruptured aorta, his life changed dramatically. From being an active person, he became paralyzed from the waist down. Despite this, he continued tinkering in the workshop. His son Nicklas describes him as belonging to another generation—tough as nails and raised in a different time.

Today he lives at the Vickan nursing home in Onsala, where he enjoys taking part in various activities—he even gets along with the staff. Recently, however, he has faced more health problems and was recently at Varberg Hospital for a visit.

The same day he was declared finished with treatment, he was taken back to the nursing home by Halland’s patient transport service. Normally, he gets help all the way inside, but not this time. Instead, he was left in his wheelchair 4–5 meters from the facility’s entrance and got stuck in a snowdrift. By then, the transport had already left.

It was around 9:45 p.m. and there was no one else around. He had his mobile phone and called one of the departments six times, but nobody answered. Then his battery died. He was found only when the night staff were leaving. By then, eight hours had passed and he was severely hypothermic. An ambulance was immediately called.

Later that evening, Kaj Hake had recovered enough to leave the hospital and, despite what had happened, was in good spirits. However, the following day he developed flu-like symptoms with fever and chills, and had to be taken back to Varberg Hospital.

Driver Suspended

Daniel Bernhardt, head of special public transport at Hallandstrafiken, told Kungsbacka-Posten that this is a terrible incident and is being taken very seriously.

The notes for the driver in Kaj’s case specified that he was to be dropped off at the entrance. Despite this, they state that the driver used poor judgment and could have waited a few more seconds to ensure Kaj made it inside—especially considering the snow.

The driver has been suspended and discussions are underway on how to proceed with the case.