Lung expert: Floyd died because his breathing was restricted

In this courtroom sketch, from left, former Minneapolis police Officer Tou Thou, attorney Robert Paule, attorney Natalie Paule, attorney Tom Punkett, former Minneapolis police Officer J. Alexander Keung, Minneapolis police Officer Thomas Land and attorney Earl Grey appear for opening statements for their trial in the killing of George Floyd on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in St. Paul, Minn. (Cedric Hohnstadt via AP)

ST. PAUL, Minn. — George Floyd could have been saved if Minneapolis police officers had moved him into a position to breathe more easily, and his chances of survival "doubled or tripled" if they had performed CPR as soon as his heart stopped, a lung specialist testified Monday at the trial of three former officers charged with violating Floyd's civil rights.

Floyd died because his upper airway was compressed by Officer Derek Chauvin's knee, while his position on the hard asphalt with his hands cuffed behind his back -- as two other officers helped hold him down -- did not allow his lungs to expand, Dr. David Systrom said. That restricted the flow of oxygen and raised carbon dioxide levels in his body, Systrom, a pulmonologist and critical care physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, said at the federal trial for J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao.

"Oxygen delivered to the heart and brain is critical to survival," Systrom said, later calling Floyd's death "an eminently reversible respiration failure event."

Kueng, Lane and Thao are accused of depriving Floyd, 46, of his rights when they failed to give him medical aid as Chauvin knelt on the Black man's neck for 9 1/2 minutes. Kueng and Thao are also accused of failing to intervene in the May 2020 killing that triggered protests worldwide and a reexamination of racism and policing.

Kueng knelt on Floyd's back and Lane held his legs while Thao kept bystanders back.

Systrom, who is also an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, testified that video from Kueng's body camera shows him holding Floyd's wrist while pressing it down on Floyd's back, which would have prevented Floyd from being able to relieve the pressure. In video from Lane's body camera, it looks like Kueng's knee is putting pressure on Floyd's abdomen, Systrom said. He said "it's difficult to know" if Floyd would have died without the pressure Kueng applied.

He said Lane's restriction of Floyd's legs also would have prevented Floyd from getting into a position to breathe properly.

Prosecutor Manda Sertich asked what, if anything, could have been done before Floyd lost consciousness. Systrom responded that it "could have been as simple as removal of pressure on the upper airway by a knee" or letting Floyd sit up with handcuffs on.

When asked about Floyd's chances of survival if officers had immediately begun CPR after his cardiac arrest, Systrom replied: "They would have been doubled or tripled."

Dr. Andrew Baker, Hennepin County's chief medical examiner, testified last week that Floyd died after police "subdual, restraint and neck compression" caused his heart and lungs to stop. He said heart disease and drug use were factors but not the "top line" causes.

Systrom said Floyd did not die of his coronary artery disease or hypertension, and that there was no evidence of a heart attack. Floyd's medical records showed he had high blood pressure, but mostly normal heart rate and rhythm, he said.

"Would he have died of heart disease on that day if not for the officers' restraint?" Sertich asked.

"A definitive no," replied Systrom.

Kueng, who is Black, Lane, who is white, and Thao, who is Hmong American, are charged with willfully depriving Floyd of his constitutional rights while acting under government authority. The charges allege that the officers' actions resulted in Floyd's death.

Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter in state court last year and pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights charge. He remains in prison.

Lane, Kueng and Thao also face a separate state trial in June on charges alleging that they aided and abetted murder and manslaughter. All three have been free on bail since shortly after they were charged in June 2020.

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Webber contributed from Fenton, Michigan.