Updated 3pm with cause of death

A stream of witnesses made their way to the Sliema police station on Saturday morning to testify as part of a magisterial inquiry into the death of Stephen Mangion.

According to initial reports, Mangion was asked to go to Mater Dei Hospital's emergency unit with his private car after seeking assistance at the Floriana health centre.

But sources privy to the investigation told Times of Malta that CCTV footage from the area clearly shows that Mangion was driven from the Floriana Health Centre to Mater Dei by a friend.

Times of Malta is informed that Mangion had been feeling unwell since the morning. He called a state-run telemedicine service and was told to visit a health centre. He went to the Floriana Health Centre in the evening.  

Mangion died on Wednesday night at Mater Dei Hospital’s emergency waiting room after complaining of chest pains. He had been waiting to be seen for around 30 minutes.

An autopsy has concluded that Mangion died as a result of a cardiac tamponade and aortic dissection, not a cardiac arrest as originally believed.

A cardiac tamponade involves the compression of the heart by an accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac. It limits the amount of blood the heart can pump, depriving the body of blood and oxygen. An aortic dissection is a serious condition in which a tear occurs in the inner layer of the body's main artery.

Mangion’s death certificate, signed by pathologist David Pisani, notes that Mangion suffered from heart disease and also suffered from long-term blood pressure that strained the left side of his heart. 

His funeral took place on Saturday morning at the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Valletta.

Among the witnesses heard were the medical and forensic experts, police officers conducting the investigations, doctors and health workers on duty, 112 operators, and ambulance staff.

Was claim posted by fake Facebook profile?

Mangion's death prompted outrage on social media following claims that he was made to wait at Mater Dei after complaining of chest pains. 

At least one of those claims is now under scrutiny. 

On Facebook group Il-Kotra, a profile named Manuel Debono claimed to have witnessed Mangion entering the emergency department, approaching reception and complaining of chest pains, but being told to wait.

“He walked out, fell to the ground and died in the waiting area... it was then that they ran up to him and took him inside, but he died!”, the man exclaimed.

Times of Malta was unable to trace Debono's profile and sources close to the inquiry say they believe the Facebook profile has been deleted.

Investigators believe that the message may have been posted from a fake profile and the police's cybercrime unit has been asked to look into profiles like Debono's. 

Cybercrime officers are looking into posts by 'fake' social media profiles. Photo: Facebook

The circumstances leading to Mangion’s death became a matter of national controversy, with former PN MP Jason Azzopardi and Opposition spokesperson Adrian Delia both linking the death to the decay of Malta's healthcare systems.  

Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela replied by saying that the government is working to address staff shortages in the emergency department.

Abela also announced the setting up of an independent inquiry the findings of which will be published.