Finding into death of Timothy John Hacking

54y · Male·Cardiomyopathy (NOS)

Timothy Hacking, a 54-year-old man with intellectual disability, schizoaffective disorder, epilepsy and hypertension, died suddenly at his supported accommodation from cardiomyopathy. Autopsy revealed moderate coronary artery disease, cardiac hypertrophy, and fibro-fatty infiltration suggestive of possible arrhythmogenic or genetic cardiomyopathy. He was found unresponsive and deceased within hours of a support worker noting him in good health. The coroner found no causal nexus between his 'in care' status and death, which was from natural causes. The clinical lesson is that sudden cardiac death from underlying cardiomyopathy may occur without warning despite appropriate daily supervision in supported accommodation settings.