A 77-YEAR-OLD widower found dead outside his home in early December with his Zimmer frame and a bag of groceries beside him died from hypothermia, an inquest was told yesterday .
Thomas Connell, of Luí Na Gréine, Claremorris, Co Mayo, was dropped home by a taxi at 9pm on December 1st.
Mr Connell was found dead outside his front door by his stepson at 10.30am the following morning.
Dr Fadel Bennani, consultant pathologist at Mayo General Hospital, who carried out a postmortem, said Mr Connell died during an unusually cold spell of weather from hypothermia.
The pathological features found that support hypothermia in this case are pink skin coloration and severe acute gastritis.
Dr Bennani added that the blood alcohol level was high at 183mg.
It is well known that the lethal effect of hypothermia on the vital organs is enhanced by a high blood alcohol level, the pathologist continued.
Garda Donal Kelly said a taxi driver dropped Mr O’Connell home from O’Brien’s pub at around 9pm on December 1st but did not wait to see if he entered the house.
“There was heavy snow that day and night and temperatures were well below freezing,” the garda said.
“In the morning when the deceased was found lying dead outside his house he was lying on the ground next to his Zimmer frame.”
Returning a verdict of misadventure, the coroner, John O’Dwyer, said the level of alcohol could have accelerated the loss of heat from the body.
The unfortunate situation was that Mr Connell could have tripped as he approached his front door, the coroner said. Mr Connell had not removed the key for the house from his pocket.
