Lee Eddleston, 55, was found ‘cold to the touch’ by his housemate Andrew Aspinall at their home in Blackburn, Lancashire following a night out with friends at a local club
A devoted dad-of-four died moments after sitting down to enjoy a “butty and a yoghurt” at his kitchen table, an inquest has heard.
Lee Eddleston was discovered by a friend having choked on his own vomit at his home in Blackburn, Lancashire, earlier his year. The popular parent, known to his friends and family as Eggy, had been on a night out with pals at the nearby Rishton Workmens Club on Thursday January 16.
After, 55-year-old Lee went back to his home and prepared a snack before housemate Andrew Aspinall – who had stayed on at the venue for a while longer – also returned to the property. After returning to join his friend at their home, he found Lee laid out on his back in the kitchen.
He was discovered “cold to the touch” and Andrew said he instantly “realised he was dead”. Mr Eddleston’s death was later confirmed by paramedics, who arrived a short while later. An inquest held on Monday at Preston Coroners’ Court heard that Lee, who had three daughters and a son, was “well known and well liked in Rishton and Blackburn”.
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He was described by friend Andrew as “a lovely lad” in a statement. It read: “We tended to leave the door unlocked for each other. When I got home the door was unlocked. I found Lee lying flat on his back. There was half a butty and a yoghurt left on the table. His skin was cold and I realised Lee was dead.”
LancashireLive report that a post mortem revealed that Lee had died from aspirational pneumonia which, Assistant Coroner Sian Jones said, “in layman’s terms, he choked on his own vomit”.
Lee was also “profoundly intoxicated”, pathologist Dr Neil Papworth said, which had left him more susceptible to aspirating the contents of his stomach. Lee had likely vomited “very soon after” he had started eating his sandwich, with some of the ingredients recognisable in Lee’s lungs.
Although Lee had been intoxicated, with a blood alcohol reading of 195mcg – the drink-driving limit being 80mcg for reference – this was “not within the range encountered in deaths caused by alcohol alone”, the pathologist said.
The coroner returned a conclusion of an alcohol-related death and said: “The picture is clear of one where Lee had consumed sufficient alcohol to be considered significantly intoxicated to a point where the body’s natural ability to protect itself and its airways were likely to be compromised.”
After Lee’s death his mates set up a page on Facebook to share happy memories. Friend Gen Wild posted: “He had a heart of gold and a brilliant personality.”
Another pal, Andy Holmes, wrote: “Your positive vibes often picked me up when I would read your posts. You would always try your best for others and your positive energy will always be remembered.”