“Today, the jury returned a conclusion of “accidental death”. This means that Lynn’s death was the consequence of an unintended act or omission. It does not mean that the accident was nobody’s fault; nor does it attribute any fault. A coroner’s inquest is not about blame.
We have been devastated by the loss of such a wonderful wife, mother and nan. She was completely devoted to her husband of 48 years, her four children and eight grandchildren. She had a number of hobbies, from gardening to drawing, and particularly enjoyed creating impressive wedding flower arrangements for the family – from bouquets and table decorations to bridesmaid flowers, which added an incredible personal touch for us.
Not a day goes by that we do not mourn the loss of someone we loved so much, who was taken from us so suddenly and unexpectedly. It continues to be an ongoing struggle for us all.
As a family we have also had to endure some inaccuracies surrounding the circumstances of her death, which has led to some unwarranted and hurtful comments across social media. As you can imagine, this has led to additional stress and pain for the whole family at an incredibly difficult time when all we wish to do is to remember a family member so dear to us.
We are therefore grateful that the coroner heard evidence of the findings of the West Midlands Ambulance Service and West Midlands Fire Service investigation reports, which go some way to clearing up exactly what contributed to Lynn’s death on the day.”
The Ambulance Service report identified that the attending paramedic was not trained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions for the operation of medical oxygen cylinders and did not open the cylinder in the correct sequence. As the coroner and jury heard, the Fire Service report concluded that this incorrect sequence increased the chance of ignition occurring.
The family further said:
“Finally, we are pleased that the Ambulance Service has learned from these failings and taken steps to ensure that its staff are, or will be, fully trained in the correct use of medical gas cylinders to avoid the potentially fatal risks surrounding their mis-assembly in future.”
The family has respectfully requested that any further approaches by the media are directed to the Shoosmiths press office.
Pictured above: Lynn Hadley.
Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is recommended that specific professional advice is sought before acting on any of the information given. © Shoosmiths LLP 2024
