A PENSIONER choked to death on a piece of pork, despite frantic attempts to save her.
Staff at St David's Nursing Home, Redcar, tried oxygen, abdominal thrusts and back slaps in a vain attempt to dislodge the obstruction. A paramedic responding to a 999 call, tried to reach it with forceps, but to no avail.
Pathologist Sri Nagarajan told an inquest in Middlesbrough that the piece of meat had lodged in the lower part of 89-year-old Mary Jackson's windpipe, almost completely blocking her airway.
Her advanced age meant there was no coughing reflex, so she could not expel the meat, herself.
A doctor attended the home on the town's Lord Street, following the lunch time incident and pronounced Mrs Jackson dead.
Recording a verdict of death by accident, Deputy Teesside Coroner Gordon Hetherington, said: "Staff at the home appeared to have done everything they could; back slapping and abdominal thrusts and even when the paramedics arrived with suction (equipment) they still could not remove it.
"Sadly, it would appear this obviously lodged in such a position that little could be done at the time."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article