Moped crash mechanic suffered massive heart attack
A mechanic suffered a massive heart attack while riding his moped which caused him to come off the road and crash into a metal sign, an inquest heard.
John Fisher, from Cannock, was seen riding 'erratically' along Longford Road a short time before the smash took place on June 18 this year.
Cannock Coroners Court was told he had failed to turn at a bend in the road, instead mounting a dropped kerb and onto a verge before hitting the post.
The 61-year-old, of The Willows, suffered fractures and abrasions in the crash but the inquest was told they had not contributed to his death.
A post mortem revealed Mr Fisher had a massive heart attack.
He died the following day on June 19 at the Royal Stoke University Hospital. Mr Fisher had undergone surgery but his condition continued to deteriorate.
Dr Hiam Ali, the pathologist who carried out the post mortem, told the inquest that one of Mr Fisher's arteries was severely blocked.
"He suffered fractures, bruises and abrasions in the crash but they did not contribute to his death," she said.
"The cause of death here was a massive heart attack."
Pc Carl Matthews, the police investigating officer for the crash, read out a witness statement given by Paul Osbourne who had been travelling along the same road at the time.
"He said Mr Fisher was not travelling very fast but started moving from side to side. He stayed at consistent speed but at a right bend in the road the moped had gone up a dropped kerb and on to grass before hitting the school sign."
Pc Matthews said no third party had been involved in the crash and there were no other conditions which could have resulted in the moped leaving the road.
"He made no attempt to stop. Neither the brake lights or indicators came on," he said.
Pc Matthews said no defects had been found in the moped.
Miss Louise McCabe, assistant coroner for South Staffordshire, gave a conclusion of death by natural causes at the end of the hearing.
She said: "There is no suggestion Mr Fisher did anything wrong. The most likely cause was a medical episode rather than inattention or any other aspect.
"From the medical evidence he had a massive heart attack and it was this event that caused his death and the collision to occur in the manner it did."
After the hearing, Mr Fisher's daughter Catherine Hill said: "We just want to thank everyone who tried to help him at the scene and the staff at the hospital for everything they did."
