A heartbroken daughter has said she will never give up on her mum three years on from her tragic death. Sheila Duffy died aged 60 weeks after being knocked down by a lorry as she returned home from the GP in 2019.
Ms Duffy was hit by a lorry as she crossed the entrance to Howarth Timber on Milnrow Road, Rochdale, on the morning of August 6. She sustained multiple injuries and severe grazing and was rushed to Manchester Royal Infirmary for treatment.
Just under two weeks later the great-grandmother developed sepsis and deteriorated rapidly, dying on August 20.
The driver of the lorry, Jordan Devine, said he did not see Sheila as she crossed the entrance, and was found not guilty of causing death by careless driving by a jury in September last year.
READ MORE: CCTV captures terrifying moment police car ploughs into metal barrier in horror smash
An inquest into Sheila’s death has now been held at Rochdale Coroners’ Court with assistant coroner Michael Salt concluding: “She would not have died if not for the injuries sustained in the collision.” Although it would be a sepsis infection that would ultimately end her life.
Police Sergeant Andrew Page, of GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, gave evidence at the hearing saying, despite the lorry driver saying he checked his mirrors before turning, “I can offer no explanation as to why the driver didn’t see the pedestrian at any point”. He explained that Mr Devine had driven past Sheila before getting to the timber yard entrance but stopped to let a car out before turning in himself.
This is when Sheila began to cross the road and was knocked over by the lorry and pushed along the floor. PS Page added that he did not understand he did not see Sheila when checking his mirrors before continuing with the turn.
In a statement from forensic pathologist, Dr Naomi Carter, the court heard that being knocked over by the lorry caused Sheila “catastrophic” injuries, especially to her skin, making her susceptible to infections. Dr Carter gave her cause of death as sepsis due to multiple injuries.
A root cause analysis report from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust into Sheila’s death recorded that she “received a good standard of treatment”. But, Sheila “developed an infection and sadly didn’t have the resources to survive surgical intervention”.
The report outlined further that severe skin loss increased the risk of infection and this was being closely monitored with blood tests but Sheila’s deterioration was “rapid and profound” and “couldn’t be successfully dealt with when it started". However, the report did concede that there was a ‘lack of clarity’ when making referrals for a plastic surgeon to treat Sheila’s skin injuries at the time, one reason being that they could be at different hospitals within the trust. It said a plastic surgeon would have been ‘valuable’ in Sheila’s situation and improvements have been made since.
Mr Salt gave a concluding statement saying: “Quite clearly as evidence today shows Sheila was very close to family and she really was a family woman. The events of August 6 completely turned that on its head.
“It was a tragic collision between a large vehicle and Sheila and clearly substantial injuries were caused in that collision. She wouldn’t have died if not for the injuries sustained in the collision.” He gave a cause of death as sepsis caused by multiple injuries.
After the inquest Sheila’s heartbroken daughter, Natalie, spoke to the MEN, saying even after more than three years after the collision and her mother’s death, she still does not have closure. “I don’t feel like I’ve been given a proper explanation for her dying really,” she told the MEN.
“She was awake and eating in hospital after the accident, she seemed fine. But then she went to surgery for her injuries and it went downhill from there.
“They just told me to stop worrying, it's life changing injuries not life threatening, they told me that the whole time she was in there. She kept saying she was confused but they just kept saying don’t worry she’ll be alright, it gave me false hope, I really really did think she would be okay. They had me filling out forms about rehabilitating her at home but when she died they said she was never going to live. I just don’t get it.”
Natalie tearfully described how she left her mum on August 19, but soon after this she took a turn for the worse and was to not see her alive again. “I left and she took a turn for the worse but they didn’t call me, I didn’t get to say goodbye,” she said.
“I’ve waited for three years for answers, it’s just so wrong, I have had no closure, someone made a mistake here. All they could do was apologise for not getting a plastic surgeon in time.
“I just don’t know what to do next. She was my mum and everything to me and my kids, there’s no way no ones going to answer for that. I won’t give up on her. I won’t forget her.
“I need closure, I’ve had no answers. She didn’t know she was going to die, I just don’t think I shouted loud enough.
“She was a great mum and loved my kids to bits. You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, this has been the hardest thing in the world. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, it’s only my own kids that keep me going. She (mum) deserves answers.”
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust were approached for a further comment.
For more of today's top stories click here.
READ NEXT:
