Coroner's Finding: Balsley, Peter Donald
Deceased
Peter Donald Balsley
Demographics
62y, male
Date of death
2021-09-11
Finding date
2023-02-09
Cause of death
Positional asphyxia as a result of an accidental fall whilst intoxicated
AI-generated summary
Peter Donald Balsley, a 62-year-old man with a history of excessive alcohol consumption, died from positional asphyxia following an accidental fall into a concrete service pit while severely intoxicated (blood alcohol 0.289 g/mL). He had consumed approximately 10 beers over several hours and was unable to extricate himself from the pit after falling. The coroner found no criticism of the tavern's service practices, noting he was served mid-strength beers and not obviously intoxicated to staff. Advanced atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease was also present. This case highlights the dangers of severe alcohol intoxication and inability to safely navigate the environment, though no systemic healthcare failures or clinical errors were identified.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Contributing factors
- Severe alcohol intoxication (blood alcohol content 0.289 g/mL)
- Accidental fall into concrete service pit
- Advanced atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease
- Inability to extricate himself from the pit due to intoxication or unconsciousness
Full text
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