Neville Towner, a 52-year-old man serving a life sentence, died from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to severe community-acquired pneumonia. He presented to hospital on 15 June 2018 with respiratory symptoms and hypoxia, was admitted to the respiratory ward, and intubated on 19 June. Despite aggressive treatment with high-flow oxygen, antibiotics, and high-dose methylprednisolone, his condition deteriorated. The coroner found he received appropriate medical care with no suspicious circumstances. The death was natural and unavoidable given the severity of ARDS. The case highlights the poor prognosis of ARDS despite optimal supportive care, even in a fit patient with access to tertiary hospital resources.
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