Carer Assumed Vulnerable Man Choked to Death While Sleeping

A coroner revealed a carer mistakenly thought a man choking on a sandwich was asleep

Carer Assumed Vulnerable Man Choked to Death While Sleeping
Carer Assumed Vulnerable Man Choked to Death While Sleeping

Farnworth: A tragic incident unfolded when a carer thought Craig Spiby was just sleeping. Sadly, he was choking on a sandwich.

Craig had a rare disorder that made him prone to choking. He was at a care home for adults with learning difficulties when this happened. Despite a care plan that said he needed supervision while eating, he was left alone.

When paramedics arrived, it was too late. The coroner ruled his death an accident due to neglect. They warned the care home to improve their practices.

The coroner noted that Craig suffered from Phelan McDermid Syndrome, which made eating risky for him. On July 13, 2024, while eating lunch unsupervised, he choked and collapsed.

The carer thought he was just asleep until they realized he was unresponsive. Despite quick help from paramedics, he was pronounced dead shortly after.

A post-mortem showed he choked on a piece of sandwich, which could have caused him to lose consciousness in just a few minutes.

The coroner raised concerns about the staff’s lack of confidence in handling choking emergencies. They questioned why the carer didn’t check on Craig more closely.

Bolton Cares, the company running the home, has until February 4 to respond to the coroner’s findings. Bolton council expressed their sadness over the incident and is working to improve care standards.

Bolton Cares has been contacted for further comments on the situation.

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