Grandmother died after catching infection (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Grandmother died after catching infection

12:23pm Friday 11th January 2008

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A QUARRY BANK woman died just hours after complaining of a sore throat, an inquest heard.

Pauline Tonks was found dead in bed by her husband Keith on September 18 2007 at their home in Grosvenor Way.

She woke at 6.30am that morning with a sore throat and difficulty swallowing and decided to stay in bed, thinking she had caught her grandson's cold.

Dudley Coroners Court heard how her husband had continually checked on her throughout the day, however when he went to see her at 4pm he found she had died.

He attempted to resuscitate her by giving the kiss of life, but paramedics declared her dead at the scene.

A postmortem examination revealed 65-year-old Pauline had caught a bacterial infection - which had caused her throat to swell, blocking her airways.

At the inquest held on Wednesday January 9, Black Country Coroner Robin Balmain recorded a verdict of death by natural causes due to an acute upper airway obstruction.

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