Edmonton, Canada – A 44-year-old Indian-origin man, Prashant Sreekumar, died on December 22, 2025, after waiting for eight hours in the emergency room of Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Edmonton, Canada. Sreekumar, a father of three, was experiencing severe chest pain.

According to a Global News report, Sreekumar was taken to the hospital by a client after he began experiencing acute chest pain while at work. His father, Kumar Sreekumar, recounted his son describing the pain as "15 out of 10". Despite his extreme discomfort, Prashant underwent an electrocardiogram (ECG) and was informed that no significant issues were detected. He was given Tylenol for the pain and asked to wait.

Family members stated that Sreekumar's blood pressure was extremely high, and he repeatedly told hospital staff about the severity of his pain. Kumar Sreekumar recalled his son saying, "Papa, I cannot bear the pain" while waiting for treatment. After eight hours, Prashant was finally called into the treatment area but collapsed shortly after entering. Medical staff attempted resuscitation, but he was pronounced dead due to apparent cardiac arrest.

Prashant Sreekumar is survived by his wife and three children, aged 3, 10, and 14. Varinder Singh Bhullar, a family friend, described him as a respected member of the Indian community in Edmonton and called the incident a "huge loss and a preventable tragedy".

Covenant Health, which operates Grey Nuns Community Hospital, has confirmed the death and stated that it is under review by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The organization has offered condolences to the family but has not released further details, citing patient privacy.

The incident has sparked strong reactions, with Edmonton residents expressing concerns regarding long emergency room wait times caused by seasonal pressures, staffing shortages, and high patient volumes. A June 2025 report from the Montreal Economic Institute indicated that median ER visit times are lengthy.