Man found dead in Polson Park wanted help

VERNON – A man whose body was found in Polson Park was an alcoholic, but he told hospital staff as little as five days before his death he wanted to get help.

Terrance Edward Fergus, 47, died of alcohol poisoning the night of Sept. 26, 2012, according to a report on his death by coroner Margaret Janzen. The body of another man was found in Polson Park just last summer, but his name has not been released.

A passerby found Fergus just before 10 p.m. lying in front of a park bench with two liquor bottles nearby. His bicycle was leaned up against a garbage bin. He had vomited and had blood on his hand and head. There was a cut across his forehead.

Earlier that day around 8 a.m., police arrested him for being intoxicated in a public place. By about 4:30 p.m. he was released. An hour later, he bought some vodka and headed to Polson Park.

Janzen said Fergus’ history included chronic alcoholism and binge drinking. He’d been in and out of Vernon Jubilee Hospital throughout the month of September, frequently in the ER. A psychiatrist encouraged him to go to a detox centre.

Fergus was seen in the ER six times between Sept. 15-22. During that time he told emergency room staff he wanted to go to rehab.

Toxicology tests showed his blood alcohol level was 0.53 per cent when he died.

Janzen deemed the death accidental and made no recommendations.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.