By PingTV News Desk Edmonton/New Delhi | December 29, 2025

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

The Alberta government has launched a high-level investigation into the death of a 44-year-old Indian-origin man who passed away after waiting nearly eight hours in an Edmonton emergency room. The case has sparked outrage within the Indian diaspora and intensified scrutiny over Canada’s deteriorating healthcare infrastructure.

The Incident: A Fatal Eight-Hour Wait

Prashanth Sreekumar, an accountant and father of three, began experiencing “15 out of 10” chest pain while at his office on Monday, December 22. A client immediately drove him to the Grey Nuns Community Hospital in southeast Edmonton.

According to his family, Sreekumar was triaged and given an electrocardiogram (ECG). Despite his severe pain and rapidly rising blood pressure—which reportedly reached a dangerous 210 mmHg—he was told the ECG showed “nothing significant” and was asked to wait in the lobby. He was reportedly only offered Tylenol for the pain.

After a grueling eight-hour wait, Sreekumar was finally called into the treatment area. His father, Kumar Sreekumar, who was present, stated that his son sat down for only a few seconds before clutching his chest and collapsing. Medical staff attempted resuscitation, but he was pronounced dead of an apparent cardiac arrest.

Government and Official Response

Following a wave of public anger and viral videos from the grieving family, Alberta’s Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services, Matt Jones, announced an official review.

“I have directed Acute Care Alberta and Covenant Health to jointly review the circumstances and factors leading to the death of Prashanth Sreekumar,” Minister Jones stated on social media.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith also extended her condolences, promising a “complete review of this matter.” Simultaneously, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has launched an independent investigation to determine the exact cause of death.

Family Demands Accountability

The victim’s wife, Niharika Sreekumar, has been vocal in her demand for justice, alleging negligence and a failure of the system.

“The one time in his entire lifetime in Canada he needed that system, he was denied,” she told local media. She described the trauma of watching her husband “beg for his life” in a facility that should have protected him. Sreekumar had been a resident and taxpayer in Canada for 25 years.

Community Impact

Prashanth was the sole breadwinner for his family, which includes three children aged 3, 10, and 14. His youngest child reportedly requires 24/7 care for special needs. A GoFundMe campaign set up by the community has already raised over $100,000 to support the family.

Varinder Bhullar, a family friend and Indian community leader, called the death “completely avoidable,” noting that while initial checks may have been clear, the warning sign of soaring blood pressure was tragically ignored.

Broader Healthcare Crisis

This tragedy comes amid growing reports of extreme wait times in Alberta’s hospitals. A June 2025 report indicated that Edmonton-zone emergency waits averaged close to six hours—the highest in the province—driven by staffing shortages and seasonal pressures.

PingTV India will continue to monitor the results of the Alberta government’s review. Stay tuned for further updates.