An aged Wexford man suffered deadly burn accidents after spilling a pot of boiling water over his chest, an inquest has heard.
sitting of Dublin District Coroner’s Courtroom heard John Roche (86) died at St James’s Hospital in Dublin on December 29, 2019 two weeks after the incident within the kitchen of his residence.
A autopsy revealed Mr Roche, a father of 4 from Knocknasillogue, Blackwater, Co Wexford died from bronchial pneumonia which he had contracted on account of extreme scalding to his physique.
A marketing consultant plastic surgeon, Kevin Cahill, who handled Mr Roche within the burns unit of St James’s Hospital, mentioned he had suffered burns to not less than 20pc of his physique.
Dr Cahill mentioned some accidents which had initially appeared much less extreme had been truly full-thickness burns.
Whereas Mr Roche had acquired quite a few pores and skin grafts and gave the impression to be recovering nicely, the inquest heard he subsequently deteriorated after changing into contaminated with pneumonia.
Mr Roche’s widow, Eileen instructed the coroner, Cróna Gallagher, that they’d been within the kitchen of their residence on December 14, 2019.
Ms Roche mentioned her husband, who suffered from dementia and an irregular heartbeat, wanted fixed care and a focus and wouldn’t be concerned in doing any work of their kitchen.
She described how her husband was sitting in an armchair of the kitchen with a pot of boiled water simmering on the range as she went exterior to feed her cats.
Ms Roche mentioned she subsequent heard him moaning and rushed in to seek out him mendacity on the ground in a pool of water with a number of steam coming from his physique.
She mentioned he remarked: “Take a look at what I’ve finished to myself.”
Ms Roche mentioned she tried to tug him away from the water however he was too heavy so she referred to as one in all her sons who lived close by.
One of many couple’s sons, John Roche, mentioned his father was in shock after the accident.
He was dropped at Wexford Normal Hospital and transferred later to St James’s Hospital for specialist care.
Returning a verdict of unintended loss of life, Dr Gallagher mentioned it couldn’t have been predicted or prevented.
“Whereas the dementia might need affected his judgement, it may have occurred to anybody,” the coroner remarked.