Creswell man’s ‘sudden death’

Belfast-born Robert McAughey was 72-years-old when he died at his home at Rogers Avenue in Creswell on 23rd April.

Although he was a retired electrical engineer for the National Coal Board, the inquest at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court on Monday 30th July heard that Mr McAughey’s death was not related to his former career and that he died of natural causes.

While asbestos was present in his body, it was found that it was ‘not contributive’ to his death.

Speaking at the inquest, pathologist Dr McKenna said that Mr McAughey had a particularly high blood pressure and a significant tumour in his bladder, but the cause of his immediate death was a blood clot.

Mr McAughey’s widow, Christina, told the court: “He was only ill for five weeks.”

His son Steven McAughey added: “It was such an aggressive cancer.”

“He was only diagnosed just a week to the day that he died.”

Dr McKenna responded by saying: “This is not unusual - this type of tumour will not trigger any symptoms of pain but can grow to a very large size.”

“This one had grown through the blood vessels and spread throughout the abdomen.”

She added: “Blood clots are very sudden and chances of survival are very slim.”

Recording a verdict of natural causes, coroner James Nigel Anderson told Mrs AcAughey: “I’m sorry that you lost your husband in such short circumstances - almost with no warning at all.”