THE inquest into the death of a York brain-injury patient heard how he choked to death while on a trip to a hamburger restaurant.

Peter Manley, a patient at York House, in Heslington Road, became unconscious after choking on a hamburger while at McDonalds, in Monks Cross, on January 18 last year.

The hearing, in Bootham, was told how, despite the best attempts of his carers, he became unconscious outside the restaurant and later died in York Hospital.

Mr Manley, 35, a diabetic, suffered severe brain damage following an overdose of insulin at his Liverpool home nine years ago.

He was moved to the specialist brain injury unit, York House, in 2004 suffering from epilepsy and a tendency to be violent. He was also unable to eat solids, though staff at the facility successfully developed a way for Mr Manley to eat normally again.

Giving evidence, Anna Headley, service manager at York House, told how Mr Manley had visited the hamburger restaurant in January last year with another patient and three carers.

She explained: “They would prepare bite-size pieces of food for him and then encourage him to drink.

“He was known to get up and wander and he did that at McDonalds. He sat down at another table and his carers noticed he was very pale, but was not exhibiting any choking.

“He then got up and went outside and it was then they noticed his lips were turning blue and he must be choking.”

Despite the best efforts of his carers, Mr Manley collapsed outside the restaurant and, as an ambulance arrived, he stopped breathing.

Despite being resuscitated, he remained unconscious in the intensive care unit and attempts to wean him from a ventilator proved unsuccessful, the inquest heard.

Following a brain scan, his family agreed for treatment to be withdrawn, two days after the incident.

A post-mortem examination concluded he died from a hypoxic brain injury caused by choking, which in-turn came about due to his previous brain damage.

Coroner Donald Coverdale said: “I have heard a clear account of the unfortunate events of January 18 last year.

“Mr Manley was accompanied, quite properly, by staff who were there for him.

“It was recorded that he had some difficulty eating and that food had to be chopped up.

“Unfortunately, he has choked on the food he was eating.”

Mr Coverdale praised the actions of those who tried to save Mr Manley and recorded a verdict of accidental death.

“It’s something that couldn’t have been avoided by the staff present,” he added.