A 12-year-old Dublin girl who collapsed during a roller coaster ride at Funderland in the RDS had suffered a cardiac arrest and while unconscious took gastric contents into her lungs, Dublin City Coroner's Court heard yesterday.
Ann-Marie Vernor, of Grangegorman Villas, Prussia Street, was pronounced dead at St Vincent's Hospital on December 27th.
The inquest had been adjourned on June 7th to allow a pathologist to give evidence in person. At the resumed inquest, pathologist Dr Radhika Ramnath said a large amount of partly-digested food had been found in the girl's trachea and lungs. Her conclusion was that death was due to the aspiration of gastric contents. The girl would have to be unconscious for this to happen. She could have vomited during the roller coaster ride.
However, the evidence from fairground staff and first aid staff was that Ann-Marie did not vomit during the ride. She did vomit in the ambulance on the way to hospital.
A deposition made by Mr Owen Curry, who was in charge of the roller coaster, which was read to the inquest, said Ann-Marie appeared to have fainted during the ride. When she was taken off, she did not appear to be breathing and he noticed her lips turning blue. He pressed on her chest and she gasped a breath. First aid staff then arrived. There was nothing wrong with the roller coaster.
Mr Paul Mulholland, of the St John's Ambulance, who accompanied Ann-Marie in the ambulance to hospital, stated in a deposition that she had vomited twice during the journey to the hospital and was placed in the recovery position.
Her father, Mr Patrick Vernor, said his daughter had suffered some "blackouts" about six months before her death but on examination in hospital it was believed these were heat induced. No diagnosis of epilepsy or other similar condition had been made.
The jury of five women and one man returned a verdict of death by misadventure caused by aspiration of gastric contents following cardiac arrest.
In expressing his sympathy to the Vernor family, the Dublin City Coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, said he was sorry the inquest had not been able to explain fully the cause of fatal collapse.