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Woman Wakes Up in Mortuary After Being Declared Dead
2 Dec
Summary
- A woman was mistakenly declared dead and taken to a mortuary.
- Staff discovered she was alive upon arrival at the mortuary.
- An inquest is examining the circumstances and potential care delays.
An inquest has heard the extraordinary case of Olive Martin, a 54-year-old woman who was wrongly declared dead at her home. Following a seizure, paramedics and family attended her address, but instead of being taken to an emergency department, Ms. Martin was transported to Darlington Hospital Mortuary. It was there that mortuary staff discovered she was still alive.
The coroner noted that brain damage was the ultimate cause of Ms. Martin's death, which occurred some time later. However, her family's representative raised critical questions about a two-hour delay in treatment, asking whether the outcome could have been different if she had gone directly to the hospital. The inquest is seeking expert opinions on the appropriate emergency care that should have been administered.
Investigating officers confirmed no criminal charges would be filed. The North East Ambulance Service has initiated an investigation into the incident and expressed deep regret for the distress caused to the family. The inquest has been adjourned to allow for further examination of the timeline and potential care protocols.
