Coroner to probe death of 91-year-old man after police called to Blackpool care home

A coroner is set to probe the death of a 91-year-old man in a care home in South Shore, Blackpool which caused police to be called.

Richard Watson was discovered unresponsive in a day room at the Berwick House Care Home in Berwick Road and his cause of death was found to be related to heart and lung problems, an inquest review at Blackpool Town Hall heard.

But Blackpool and Fylde chief coroner Alan Wilson said there was a lack of clarity as to when he died, as paramedics called to the scene felt they were dealing with a patient who was already dead and police were also called.

Mr Wilson made the point that when a person died is a key factor in an inquest, along with how they died and he added that while the majority of an inquest is spent considering those factors, he also has to consider anything happened to put anyone else in danger.

“The situation the paramedics faced and the answers they got at the time are not enough to persuade me that people aren’t in danger,” he said at the review.

“Along with when he died, I will have to consider if any treatment could have been given to prevent his death.

“The cause of death seems to be natural and it might be that the response wouldn’t have made a difference but I don’t know.”

An inquest date has been set for July 22, when those to hear evidence from will include two healthcare assistants at the home as well as paramedics and police.

But after hearing at the review that one of the health are assistants to give evidence is heavily pregnant, Mr Wilson asked for details of her due date in case she might be unavailable, in which the inquest date would have to be switched.