Sunbed shop owner died after being taken to hospital with gallstone problems
A POPULAR sunbed shop owner died in hospital three days after being admitted with gallstone problems, an inquest heard.
Thomas Henderson fell ill while working at his shop on Union Road in Oswaldtwistle on Thursday, August 4, 2016, and was rushed to Royal Blackburn Hospital.
The 62-year-old - known as ‘Tommy Tan’ - was found to have ‘very serious underlying comorbidities’ including lung and heart problems.
An inquest at Blackburn Coroners Court heard how the great-grandfather was scheduled to undergo a procedure to remove the gallstone problem on August 8, however he passed away the day before.
His wife Linda Henderson told the inquest that he initially ‘seemed to be fine’ but then later on August 6 she received a text from him saying ‘get here’.
Mrs Henderson said her husband ‘seemed very distressed’ and he said ‘‘I think something is wrong and I’m going to die’.
The inquest heard how Mr Henderson, of Aysgarth Drive in Accrington, was given morphine four times between around 11pm on August 6 and around 5.30am on August 7 to help with his pain relief.
Concerns were raised by Mr Henderson’s family at the hearing over the amount of morphine he was given and whether the planned procedure ‘was being done soon enough’.
Mrs Henderson told the inquest: “There’s only one question I want to know. If I took him home that weekend would he have survived? And my heart thinks yes he would’ve done. I think if I took him home he would still be here now.” 1pm. Entry costs £6 for adults and £3 for children.
BIG LITTER PICK
A ‘GRAND litter pick’ will be held in Great Harwood.
Rotarians will hold the event along the White Path area on Saturday, March 3, from 10am.
A spokesperson said: “We are expecting to litter pick from canal bridge 108 Rishton along the pathway to the Railway Terrace area in Great Harwood.
“All welcome. Please just turn up and meet near the Victoria Inn but be prepared with strong footwear and gloves.”
SNOWMAN SHOW
THE ‘Moon on a Stick’ theatre group will be putting on a relaxed performance of the Abominable Snowman at the Civic Arts Centre in Oswaldtwistle.
The show is tailored to suit children who have learning difficulties, Autism or Asperger’s.
The performance will take place on Saturday, February 24 and tickets are £10 for adults and £8 for children.
Tickets are available from civicartscentre. co.uk or by calling the theatre on 01254 398319. .
David Chang, consultant surgeon, said Mr Henderson had ‘very serious underlying comorbidities’ and that the procedure was due to be carried out ‘as soon as it was feasible’.
He told the inquest: “He was a high risk candidate for any kind of intervention. He was sadly a very sick gentleman.”
Pathologist Dr Al Mudaffer said the cause of death was ‘most likely the result of COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] and contributing was ischaemic heart disease, common bile duct stones and morphine use’.
Deputy coroner Simon Jones concluded that Mr Henderson died from natural causes ‘although his death was contributed to by the effects of therapeutic morphine which had been prescribed to provide him with pain relief’.