Inquest into the death of Gwenith ELKINGTON

60y · Female·acute cerebral bleed resulting from blunt trauma and late haemorrhagic progression of a contra coup haemorrhagic contusion

Gwenith Elkington, aged 60, died from acute cerebral bleed resulting from haemorrhagic progression of a traumatic brain injury sustained in a bathroom fall on 21 September 2015. The injury caused a contre coup contusion to the opposite cerebral hemisphere. Critically, the progression occurred on the evening of 23 September 2015, when Gwenith experienced vomiting and seizure-like activity, but medical assistance was not sought until 10:20am on 24 September 2015. Expert evidence indicated that while earlier hospitalisation (particularly on 23 September when she attended a medical centre) might have allowed assessment and correction of her coagulopathy from liver cirrhosis, the injury was ultimately non-survivable. The delay in seeking medical attention, while potentially contributing to aspiration pneumonia and hypoxic complications, likely did not materially alter the fatal outcome. The coroner found the manner of death to be accidental, not homicide.