Steward’s death inquiry missed toxic air link

THERE were missed opportunities to see if aerotoxic syndrome led to the death of a British Airways steward, an inquest has heard.

The family of Matthew Bass, who died suddenly aged 34 at a friend’s house after feeling ill and falling asleep, have long campaigned for recognition that he was poisoned by toxic cabin air.

A coroner ruled that he died instead as a result of misadventure, but the inquest heard that the chance to determine if the fumes played a part in his death was lost at the early stages of the investigation.

Berkshire senior coroner Peter Bedford apologised to Mr Bass’s parents, and said their son had not been wellserved in the investigation.

He said: “It does trouble me that Mr Bass’s family had to wait well over four years for this inquest to be concluded.

“They have put their hand into their own pocket significantly for the purpose of trying to understand what happened and I commend them hugely for that approach.”

Mr Bass, from Clapham, south London, had returned from a long-haul overnight flight from Africa when he went to a colleague’s home with two other co-workers where he drank wine.

He was found by his friend to have stopped breathing and blue in the face. The friend attempted CPR, but

‘It troubles me that the family had to wait four years for this to be concluded’

he was pronounced dead two hours later in hospital.

A test paid for by Mr Bass’s parents revealed the presence in his body of organophosphates, harmful toxins found in engine oil. But the inquest heard that Mr Bass had probably gone into cardiac arrest after aspirating, caused by a high alcohol intake.

After the ruling, Mr Bass’s father, Charles, said he accepted the coroner’s ruling.