Elderly woman choked on food
A CORONER praised the efforts of a woman who battled in vain to prevent her elderly step-mother from choking to death.
Yvette Creagan, 84, became distressed while she was having lunch at her Bollington home with step-daughter Rosalind Bradburn.
Mrs Bradburn tried to dislodge the obstruction before calling Mrs Creagan’s GP Peter Wilson, who was busy with another patient.
Dr Wilson called back and then rang for an ambulance – but the call was not rated as an emergency.
When Mrs Creagan’s condition deteriorated Mrs Bradburn called 999 and the situation was upgraded to an immediate threat to life.
Mrs Bradburn began CPR but there was a further delay when paramedics struggled to locate the property.
By the time they arrived it was too late.
An inquest at Macclesfield Town Hall concluded Mrs Creagan’s death was accidental.
Jean Harkin, assistant coroner for Cheshire, praised Mrs Bradburn’s attempts to save her step-mother.
She said: “It must have been a terrible shock for you and you should be commended for your actions. Yvette had a choking incident at home and as time passed she deteriorated.
“Prior to that Mrs Bradburn called the GP and was told he couldn’t visit for a couple of hours.
“An ambulance was called and was rated ‘green one’ - not an immediate emergency.
“While she was waiting for it to arrive she deteriorated so much she called the ambulance herself and was told to commence CPR. Sadly she could not be saved.”
The inquest heard that Yvette worked as an English teacher before becoming a housewife.
She was married to the late James ‘Cyril’ Creagan, a surgeon.
Her son Neville described his mother as ‘bookish and intellectual’, an avid reader who loved cultural trips abroad.
She played the piano and taught Latin at the University of the Third Age.
The inquest heard that Yvette suffered a major stroke in May 2016 but continued to live alone with the assistance of carers.
Mrs Bradburn said Yvette sometimes had trouble swallowing when she ate but would normally settle.