A Manchester City fan collapsed and died after liver damage caused by alcohol abuse made his heart stop.
Roger Nimmo, who had a history of alcohol dependency and seizures, was found collapsed at his home in Highfield Avenue in Blackpool on the afternoon of July 16 of this year. The 43-year-old was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital but his prognosis was 'very poor' and he went into cardiac arrest and died.
An inquest held at Blackpool Town Hall on Wednesday (November 2) heard that Roger, a plasterer, had been in hospital two weeks earlier as a result of his alcohol dependency but was discharged with a view to him seeking help from substance abuse organisation Horizon.
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When paramedics arrived at Roger's home on July 16 they noted he had low blood glucose. The inquest heard that ketoacidosis - low blood sugar - can occur in patients whose liver is not working as it should 'particularly in cases involving alcohol dependency'.
Senior Coroner Alan Wilson described Roger's death as a 'particularly sad set of circumstances' and highlighted his relatively young age. He heard evidence from a hospital pathologist who described Roger's liver as 'very heavy with fatty changes consistent with chronic alcohol use', Lancs Live reports .
At the time of his death, at around 7.55pm on July 16, Roger had a blood alcohol level of 206mg which is around two times the drink drive limit. The inquest heard that the medical cause of death was given as ethanol toxicity combined with hepatic steatosis (fatty liver disease).
Over time, too much alcohol leads to a build-up of fat inside liver cells, which makes it harder for the liver to work. Although hepatic steatosis can lead to hepatitis and cirrhosis it usually gets better if alcohol is avoided.
Returning a conclusion of an alcohol-related death, the coroner said: "Roger had a medical history which included alcohol dependency. On the afternoon of July 16 he was found in a collapsed state at his home. Ambulance staff treated his low blood glucose level but he went into cardiac arrest shortly before 6pm. He had a poor prognosis and his death was confirmed at 7.55pm."
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