A man waiting for his Crown Court trial died in hospital weeks after suffering a suspected seizure in his cell.
Michael Dean Copley had been remanded to HMP Altcourse on February 15, 2023. Just days later, on February 18, he was found in his cell having had a suspected seizure.
Mr Copley, who had a medical history of alcoholic liver disease, was sent to Aintree hospital before being discharged, but was back at the hospital shortly after following more "confusion". He died on March 14 at Aintree University Hospital.
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An inquest was held into the death of the former chef at the Gerard Majella Courthouse on Wednesday where it was told he was "confused and drowsy with a very high blood pressure and heart rate". After being assessed by the prison-based GP, who also told of abdominal pain, he was sent to hospital.
The inquest noted that while at hospital, the 48-year-old was treated for hepatic encephalopathy, cellulitis of the upper and lower limbs and anaemia. But once medically fit for discharge, he was returned to the healthcare wing at HMP Altcourse on February 25.
However, the next day Mr Copley, of Tynedale Close in Cheshire, appeared "confused and disoriented" and despite recommendations from the GP to monitor his physical observations, he was sent back to Aintree Hospital on February 28 where he was found to have an infection and chronic liver disease.
The inquest recorded that Mr Copley was intubated and ventilated but he soon developed multi-organ failure, and following "two failed self-extubation attempts, he continued to deteriorate". Mr Copley died on March 14 as area coroner Anita Bhardwaj concluded a cause of death as natural causes, namely a combination of pneumonia, liver disease and bacterial peritonitis.
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