Coroner probes rare sudden death of Blackpool company director, 47, found collapsed in home gym
“It happens without warning to fully fit people such as in this case and it is just very very tragic,” says pathologist.
A company director found unresponsive by his wife in his home gym died of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, an inquest heard.
Damian Atherton, 47, had taken a fall and a laceration was found on the back of his head, but consultant forensic pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said that was not the cause of his death or would have contributed it.
Mr Atherton, of Chapel Road, Blackpool, appeared to have hit his head in suddenly collapsing while exercising, said Dr Shepherd.
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As part of the post mortem procedure, his heart was examined in London by a specialist and was found to have no apparent abnormalities, although slightly enlarged, probably due to the exercise.
The specialist concluded that Sudden Adult Death Syndrome - more formally known as Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome - was the cause, with which Dr Shepherd concurred.
“It is likely the result of a sudden disruption to the electrical condition of the heart,” he told the inquest.
“It happens without warning to fully fit people such as in this case and it is just very very tragic.”
Mr Atherton had last been seen by his wife less than an hour before he was found, having told her he was taking some exercise in the home gym.
Shortly after 4pm on May 19 this year, she found him unresponsive on the floor of the gym, with blood from the head wound.
She called an ambulance and attempted CPR, which paramedics than also attempted after arriving a few minutes later but Mr Atherton couldn’t be revived.
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Dr Shepherd said there was nothing anyone could have done in the circumstances, with the condition totally unpredictable, with no warning signs.
“I see about four or five cases of this a year and they are especially sad because of the unpredictability,” he said. “No-one could have anticipated it or done anything differently to prevent it.”
Blackpool and Fylde assistant coroner Louise Rae recorded a conclusion of a natural death and offered her condolences to Mrs Atherton and other members of his family.
Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS)— most common in apparently healthy young people up to the age of 35 - claims approximately 500 to 800 lives each year in the UK.