Mystery surrounds grandfathers death
A retired Goodyear worker who collapsed suddenly in a Wolverhampton pub died as a result of a mystery allergic reaction - an inquest has heard.
A retired Goodyear worker who collapsed suddenly in a Wolverhampton pub died as a result of a mystery allergic reaction - an inquest has heard.
Wilbert 'Brooksey' Brooks died aged 74, after suffering anaphylactic shock in The British Queen pub on Dudley Road on June 6.
The inquest, held at Wolverhampton magistrates court, was told that Mr Brooks, who worked as a rubber worker for 35 years, had been eating nuts in the pub before his death.
Mr Brooks, of Argyle Road, Blakenhall, collapsed and an ambulance was called.
He was helped by paramedics and taken to New Cross Hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after.
Coroner Richard Allen recorded a narrative verdict, stating that the pensioner died of an allergic reaction, "the precise cause of which was not established." No alcohol was found in his body.
Jamaican-born Mr Brooks moved to Wolverhampton in the 1960s. He was married to Isadore, 64, and had three daughters – Valerie, 43, Angela, 40, and Michelle, 36, as well as six grandchildren.
Valerie Atkins, of Whitmore Reans, was present at the inquest held yesterday. She told the court that she remembered her father had always eaten nuts.
Mr Brooks was described by Mrs Atkins as a "DIY fanatic" who loved cooking traditional Caribbean food.
She said: ''He was a loving, honest man. He was quiet with others but not at home. One thing that sticks in my mind is when he made stools for each of the grandkids – he would put his hand to anything."
A report by Dr Jonathan North, of City Hospital in Birmingham, revealed results testing Mr Brooks' allergies to nuts and cashew nuts came back negative, but he added a link could not be ruled out.
Dr North added that lab tests were "not perfect" and they did not exclude the fact that Mr Brooks may have had an allergic reaction, but there was "'no evidence of what precisely caused the anaphylaxis".
Dr Mangalika, a consultant from New Cross Hospital who carried out a post-mortem on Mr Brooks, said the medical cause of his death was anaphylactic shock.
She reckoned that more than 99 per cent of allergic reactions were caused by drugs, stings and bites or food and drink.
The former two causes were ruled out by the coroner.
In his conclusion, Mr Allen said: "There is a bit of mystery about what has caused his death.
"It may have been nuts, but it may not have been."
