Coroner's Finding: Taylor, Nathan James

40y · Male·Unascertained

Nathan James Taylor, aged 40, died in Port Lincoln Prison on 24 March 2022 while in custody pending trial on witness interference charges. He had significant medical history including infective endocarditis with tricuspid valve damage (2018), schizophrenia, and intravenous substance use. In October 2021, abnormal ECGs showing left bundle branch block and prolonged QRS duration were obtained when he reported chest pain but were not reviewed by a doctor due to prison health service staffing shortages. No further chest pain was reported before his death. He was found unresponsive in his cell on 24 March; resuscitation efforts failed. Comprehensive post-mortem examination by specialist pathologists, cardiologists, and neuropathologists found no structural cause for death. An independent cardiologist opined methylamphetamine use may have caused conduction system disease but confirmed reviewing ECGs would not have altered outcome. Coroner found cause of death unascertained, likely a molecular-level cardiac channelopathy. No recommendations.