Dad dies after 'sitting down for butty and a yoghurt'
Lee Eddleston, 55, was discovered by a friend having choked on his own vomit.
A loving father of four tragically passed away just moments after settling down for a "butty and a yoghurt" at his kitchen table, an inquest has revealed.
Lee Eddleston was found by a friend having choked on his own vomit at his residence in Blackburn, Lancashire, earlier this year. The well-liked dad, affectionately known as Eggy to his loved ones, had spent the evening with friends at the nearby Rishton Workmens Club on Thursday, January 16.
Following the night out, 55 year old Lee returned home and prepared a snack before his housemate Andrew Aspinall - who had lingered at the club a bit longer - also made his way back. Upon arriving home, Andrew discovered Lee lying on his back in the kitchen.
Lee was found " cold to the touch", leading Andrew to immediately realise his friend had passed away. Paramedics confirmed Mr Eddleston's death upon their arrival shortly afterwards.
An inquest conducted on Monday at Preston Coroners' Court heard that Lee, father to three daughters and a son, was a well-known and respected figure in Rishton and Blackburn, reports the Mirror.
Andrew described his friend as "a lovely lad" in a statement, which read: "We tended to leave the door unlocked for each other. When I got home the door was unlocked. I found Lee lying flat on his back. There was half a butty and a yoghurt left on the table. His skin was cold and I realised Lee was dead."
A post-mortem examination has disclosed that Lee succumbed to aspirational pneumonia, which, in simpler terms, means "in layman's terms, he choked on his own vomit", Assistant Coroner Sian Jones clarified.
Pathologist Dr Neil Papworth noted that Lee was "profoundly intoxicated" at the time of his death, a factor that increased his vulnerability to inhaling stomach contents. It is believed that Lee likely regurgitated "very soon after" beginning to eat his sandwich, with some food particles identifiable within his lungs.
Despite Lee's significant intoxication, evidenced by a blood alcohol level of 195mcg – more than double the legal limit for driving, which is 80mcg – this concentration was "not within the range encountered in deaths caused by alcohol alone", according to the pathologist.
The coroner concluded that the death was alcohol-related and stated: "The picture is clear of one where Lee had consumed sufficient alcohol to be considered significantly intoxicated to a point where the body's natural ability to protect itself and its airways were likely to be compromised."
Following Lee's passing, his friends established a Facebook page to reminisce about the good times they shared. Gen Wild, a friend, posted: "He had a heart of gold and a brilliant personality."
Another mate, Andy Holmes, expressed: "Your positive vibes often picked me up when I would read your posts. You would always try your best for others and your positive energy will always be remembered."
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North Wales Live
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Wales Online
an hour ago
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This Cardiff GP has been advertising expensive health pills. There are serious concerns over what he's doing
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Duke University has shown that humans have molecules similar to those found in salamanders, which may be important in cartilage regeneration, but there is absolutely no evidence that anything in Activ8 can influence these substances, and this whole topic is very much at the basic science stage. "I suspect any benefits from patient testimonials are due to the placebo effect which for pain can be as high as 30 to 40%," she said. The firm's lawyers accepted there was room for "spirited and even heated scientific debate" about the benefits of the ingredients. But they said the product was supported by systematic reviews of studies involving those ingredients, which "carry significantly more weight" than the opinions of any individual. They added: "Our client does not sell medicine, and NICE guidelines are completely irrelevant to it and its products." Dr Holden acknowledged that eggshell membrane, an ingredient, had appeared in a systematic review of seven studies on easing osteoarthritis pain. But she said all were "low quality for a short duration and with few participants", and that any such benefits "would definitely not agree with conventional medical thinking". Dr O'Connell, meanwhile, denied ever claiming cartilage can be entirely regrown. His lawyers also pointed to a "substantial number of positive reviews" on the website and the offer of a 90-day refund. 'Dangerous' prostate health video Physical Nutrition also sells a "men's health" supplement, 'Protect + Perform', which it says helps "maintain a healthy prostate" at a price of £69.95 for 60 pills. When we showed one of its adverts — which the firm says is no longer in use — to the Prostate Cancer UK charity, it was disturbed. In the video, Dr O'Connell warns of "record rates of prostate problems" such as loss of bladder control, then another man's voiceover goes on to say: "It's no wonder so few men get checked, but what if there were a way to beat these problems from the comfort of your own home?" Spotting prostate problems too late "can be fatal", adds the voiceover, continuing: "Prostate cancer now kills more people than breast cancer." Prostate Cancer UK felt the video could lead to men thinking supplements were an adequate alternative to getting tested for prostate cancer. The Essex GP, Dr Cormack, had the same concern. "Research that is about something non-cancerous is presented and conflated with cancer, which is dangerously misleading," Prostate Cancer UK's assistant director of health improvement, Amy Rylance, told us. Physical Nutrition's lawyers defended the video, saying it warned against the problem of "under-investigating prostate health" and that it "makes no claims that its supplements are a suitable alternative to medical care". They said the footage was used between January 2023 and October 2024 but not since then. Logos used 'without permission' On webpages promoting Physical Nutrition's products, there was a curious positioning of the logos of the Guardian, Independent and Sky News above a picture of Dr O'Connell thoughtfully holding a finger to his head. We repeatedly asked the firm why it displayed those logos, without any answer. It was only when we contacted each news outlet — and each told us they had not licensed their logo for such use — that Physical Nutrition's lawyers responded. "At all material times our client believed that it was permitted to use the logos of publications/broadcasters with whom it had advertising agreements," said the solicitors, who added that an internal investigation was underway to check this was correct. Even if there had been permission, wouldn't the logos have risked misleading people that there'd been positive coverage from the news outlets, rather than just advertising? Physical Nutrition did not respond to this question. O'Connell denied being aware of the logos' use. What action is being taken? The ASA told us there appeared to be "ongoing problems" with Physical Nutrition's ads. The matter has been passed to the watchdog's compliance team for "follow-up enforcement action", it said. "Compliance are still actively working with the advertiser in relation to their non-compliant advertising and will decide to take firmer action should that not result in this advertiser making the required amendments," said the ASA's spokesman. 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"The deal that the ASA has with Trading Standards is that, first of all, non-compliant advertisers are placed on the naughty step, but this can take several months or years to happen. Once it does, advertisers can sit on the list for years." Physical Nutrition — whose directors run various other health businesses, including the multimillion-pound Malaberg Ltd — told us through its lawyers that it was unaware of any follow-up enforcement action. What the NHS says A spokeswoman for Cardiff and Vale health board told us: 'Dr Paul O'Connell is listed as a locum GP on the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board medical performers list. While the concerns raised are in relation to Dr O'Connell's private work, the health board will review and consider the concerns raised in line with our standard procedures.' The lawyers representing Dr O'Connell said: "Our client is clear that he has recently been working as a regular NHS locum GP and fully intends to continue to work as a GP when locum work is available." Asked if he would continue working with Physical Nutrition, his lawyers said the relationship "will be kept under review, as it has been until now (and as with any professional relationship)". Article continues below At the time of writing, Physical Nutrition's Facebook page is not visible because it has been reviewing its marketing since we raised concerns, its lawyers said. A spokesman for Physical Nutrition said: "Gluco Support, Activ8, and Perform + Protect, as with all of our supplements, were formulated off the back of an extensive body of research from world-leading biomedical scientists, academics, and researchers at some of the world's most prestigious institutions." If you know of a story we should be investigating, email us at
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
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