Inquests are heard into deaths of people from Waterford
Waterford Court House
Last week, the Waterford County Coroner, John P. Goff held inquests into recent deaths of people in Waterford.
The Coroner opened proceedings at Waterford Courthouse, alongside Garda Inspector Shay Keevans and Pathologist Rob Landers.
The first hearing concerned the death of a man at UHW.
The formal verdict delivered by the Coroner was that the man died due to multi-organ failure and cardiac arrest.
During the inquest, members of the man’s family said that they believed he died due to choking on food.
Doctors from UHW said that the family’s claim was “not based on radiological or clinical evidence” and that there was “nothing to suggest that a food choking incident took place.”
It was heard during the inquest that prior to his death, a breathing tube was placed in the man’s mouth and no food was found.
The man also received a CT scan of his thorax, where once again no food was detected.
A member of the hospital nursing staff said that no food had been delivered to patients on the morning that the man was brought for medical review following his cardiac arrest.
The family expressed verbal frustrations during the inquest hearing and questioned the hospital staff’s accounts.
The second hearing concerned a 48-year-old man who was found unresponsive at his kitchen table by a neighbour.
The neighbour noticed some bleeding and called for an ambulance. Paramedics were unable to resuscitate him.
Pathologist Rob Landers carried out an autopsy.
The inquest heard the man's heart was enlarged and it was concluded that he suffered from ischemic heart disease.
His toxicology report found quantities of cocaine and other sedative type medications.
The man was also positive for Covid-19.
The formal verdict from the Coroner was that the man died from heart disease but that cocaine and Covid-19 were contributing factors.
The third hearing concerned the death of a 54-year old woman in her home.
The woman’s daughter found her sitting in a slumped position with her head to the floor.
An ambulance was immediately contacted and CPR was performed.
She was rushed to UHW.
Pathologist Rob Landers performed a post mortem examination.
Toxicology samples found very high levels of clozapine and morphine.
The cause of death was cardiac arrest due to clozapine and morphine toxicity.
Hearing four concerned the death of a 33-year-old woman.
A witness who was making food in her home at the time noticed the woman unresponsive in another room.
CPR was performed and ambulance contacted.
Pathologist Rob Landers performed a postmortem examination.
The woman had an extremely high blood alcohol level. Methadone and other medications were also present.
The formal verdict was that the woman died due to alcohol toxicity.
The final hearing of the session concerned the death of a 24-year-old man due to a traumatic, self-inflicted injury.
On the day of his death, the man had a verbal disagreement with his brother.
The man’s mother later found him with blood coming from his neck.
An ambulance was called and he was brought to UHW where he passed away.
Pathologist Rob Landers performed an autopsy.
He noted wounds to the man’s neck and that he had lost approximately seven litres of blood.
There were no relevant toxicology findings.
The formal verdict delivered by the Coroner was that the man died from hypovolemic shock due to a penetrating, self-inflicted injury.
