A coroner has postponed the inquest of an Appleby man to find out more about a “four-hour ambulance delay” and determine whether that played any part in his death. Christopher David Robinson, who was 39, died in the town on 29th December, 2022.
An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned on 2nd May, and was due to have concluded with a second hearing at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court.
But two cousins from Penrith and Shap who attended court for that second hearing asked for proceedings to be paused after being told coroner Ms Margaret Taylor had not been made aware of an “ongoing” North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) investigation launched after Mr Robinson’s death.
“I would have expected our office to be advised if there was an investigation,” Ms Taylor told the two cousins, instructing them that the hearing could be postponed pending further inquiries. The coroner stated: “I have no knowledge that they were conducting an investigation.” Ms Taylor said Mr Robinson had rung for an ambulance, “saying that he was not well”.
“What we will never know is that if they had arrived earlier, whether or not that would have changed the outcome.
“And, inevitably, the conclusion will be that this is a drugs-related death. But I certainly would have wanted some explanation as to why it was almost four hours before the ambulance arrived,” said the coroner. The hearing was adjourned to a future date to seek more information.
An NWAS spokesman confirmed a “serious incident investigation” had been launched, saying: “That report has only been recently concluded and so will be delivered in due course. We will, of course, liaise and fully comply with any further requests.
“It is not appropriate to comment further at this time.”
