Mechanic died while on holiday
MAN DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES WHILE ON VACATION IN INDIA
A 53-YEAR-OLD mechanic died a natural death while on a dream holiday with his partner in India, an inquest has ruled.
David Poulton, of Stirling Rise, Stretton, had spent the day of his death with his partner on the poolside at his hotel, before they headed for an evening meal and later returned to their hotel room that night.
He was described as “fit and well” by his partner and there were no concerns.
However, later that night she was awoken to hear Mr Poulton making “gargling” sounds and he became unresponsive.
After fetching a friend to check on him, the friend took his pulse and sadly told her: “He is gone.”
An inquest into Mr Poulton’s death was heard virtually by South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh on Wednesday, October 14.
The inquest heard Mr Poulton suffered with sleep apnea, asthma and type 2 diabetes and smoked between 30 and 40 cigarettes a day.
In April 2019, the couple flew to Goa, India, for a holiday.
A statement by his partner was read out during the inquest where she described him as “fit and well”.
She said that on April 11, 2019 they went back to their hotel room after an evening meal. She said: “I went to bed and David went on the balcony to smoke. I was barely aware. and he sat down on the bed with a heavy thump. I had my back to him. I felt a thump on my back and I heard him make a gargling noise. I switched the light on and saw him laid on the back on his back.
“His eyes were open but he was unresponsive and staring at the ceiling.
“My room phone wasn’t working and we had travelled with another couple. I went to their room. Our friend, Neil, checked for a pulse and said: “He is gone” and he went to reception.
“Moments later the room was filled with ambulance staff, doctors and police. I was on the balcony.”
In summing up, coroner Mr Haigh said a post-mortem examination was carried out on Mr Poulton which determined his cause of cause as pneumonitis [inflammation of lung tissue] and fatty liver disease.
Mr Haigh said: “There was no suspicion of excess alcohol, drugs, trauma or occupational disease so I conclude that this is a natural death.”