A woman choked to death while she walking home eating chips, an inquest heard.
Lynn Broadhurst, 44, of Barton Street, had been to collect dinner for her and partner Kevin Jackson when she collapsed on Brown Street in June last year.
The inquest at Macclesfield Town Hall on Friday, January 25, heard that neighbours initially thought she had had a heart attack.
In a statement to the court Samuel Cox, who called the ambulance, said: “I heard a noise outside, it sounded like a bang.
“I opened the door and saw a lady was on the floor. There were chips everywhere and a half eaten sausage on the ground.”
Witness Sarah Hart added: “At first I thought she was having an epileptic fit so I said to put her on her side. Somebody attempted to get some food out of her mouth – she had been to the chippy and was eating it on the way back.”
Neighbours, including a qualified nurse, tried to resuscitate Miss Broadhurst until paramedics arrived.
Paramedic Andrew Wheelton said: “I received a call from ambulance control to attend a cardiac arrest.
“She wasn’t breathing and her heart wasn’t beating. At this point someone said she had been eating leading me to suspect a positive explanation of choking.”
A toxicology report from Dr Collin Seneviratne revealed Miss Broadhurst, who suffered from cirrhosis of the liver, had 288mgs of alcohol in her blood, three times the legal drink driving limit.
Mr Jackson, who lived with Miss Broadhurst, said they had taken their dog for a walk and had a few drinks in the pub before returning home, but he suspected she may have been drinking earlier in the day.
He said: “When Lynn died I found empty vodka bottles hidden in the house in drawers and cupboards.
“I think she may have been drinking while I was at work.”
Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, coroner Michael Wallbank said: “Her death was due to aspiration of food, due to intoxication of alcohol consumption.
“She may have had a drink at home prior to going to the pub, that may explain the high levels. She visited the chip shop, was making her way home at the time when she choked.
“I’m satisfied, as I have to be, on the balance of probabilities, that the cause of death arose from a deliberate act, which has unexpectedly and unintentionally taken a turn that led to her death.”
Speaking after the inquest, Miss Broadhurst’s sister Gillian Mayer said it had been a tough year following the recent loss of her dad.
She said: “Lynn was a loving and caring daughter, sister, aunty, niece, partner and a very genuine friend to all those that had the good fortune to meet her. Her sudden and tragic death will stay with us forever and we are now trying to grieve for her with dignity and respect.”
