Latest news with #MargaretTaylor
Daily Mail
07-08-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
British adventurer just back from trip of a lifetime to Mount Everest was killed in head on collision with ambulance after damaged tyre lost air, inquest hears
A talented young woman who had just come back from a 'dream adventure' to Mount Everest died when her car careered into the path of an ambulance, an inquest heard today. Lauren McFarland, 30, lost control of her red Fiat Punto as she drove along the A66 near Keswick, in Cumbria, in January last year. The accomplished horse rider, competitive trail runner and keen traveller was on her way to work in Penrith when she collided head-on with the ambulance, which was travelling in the opposite direction. Cockermouth Coroners' Court heard the vehicle was not on an emergency call and no patients were inside at the time of the accident. A police collision investigator who examined the Punto found damage to a rear offside wheel rim, which had caused air to escape from the tyre. Margaret Taylor, assistant coroner for Cumbria, said: 'What we don't know is whether or not this contributed to the collision and her loss of control. 'It is possible the air was lost upon impact. But it is a possibility that it may have affected her ability to control the car.' Alternatively, Ms McFarland may have been distracted by something inside or outside her vehicle, the investigator said. She had recently started a new job with an adventure travel firm and was on her way to work when the accident happened Paramedic Abigail Routledge, who was driving the ambulance, said she had no time to react. 'Out of the corner of my eye I saw a car coming towards me in the opposite direction,' she said. 'It was like I had binoculars on and it was zoomed in towards the car which I could see coming towards us. It was really quick.' Both vehicles were travelling at around 50mph before the crash, at 8.45am on January 11 2024. 'The car carried on and collided with our vehicle,' Ms Routledge said. 'We span, I think around four times, in the carriageway before coming to a halt. When we stopped I remember swearing. I was in complete shock.' Both paramedics rushed to help Ms McFarland, who was on her way to her job as a sales consultant for travel firm Kandoo Adventures, at the time. With the help of bystanders they pulled her from the Punto and began giving her CPR. A doctor and another crew of paramedics also attended to try to help. But Ms McFarland had suffered multiple, traumatic injuries, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Tragically, a friend of Ms McFarland's who was also driving to work was among the first to come upon the crash site. Freya Graham recalled seeing the damaged ambulance and smoke, so stopped to try and help. She immediately recognised Ms McFarland's Punto and distinctive trainers. 'We were good friends,' she told the hearing. 'She was the nicest girl going. She never had a bad word to say about anyone.' The coroner concluded that Ms McFarland died as a result of a road traffic collision. The court heard Ms McFarland, who had a passion for horses, started riding at a very early age and went on to compete at a high level in national equestrian competitions. 'This passion for horses remained with her throughout her entire life,' her family said in a statement read to the inquest. 'Lauren continued to compete in many different equestrian events supported by her family and friends, and she became locally and nationally the person to beat.' The court heard Ms McFarland graduated with a degree in sports therapy from London Metropolitan University in 2015. She worked as a medical coder for the NHS but her love of the outdoors led to her switching careers to adventure travel. Three months before she died she had visited Nepal as part of a Himalayan expedition. After completing the charity trek, in November 2023, Ms McFarlane posted a video of herself at Everest Base Camp, saying: 'Mission completed but the journey was what made it.' In a tribute issued after her death, Ms McFarland's family said: 'She was a beautiful, confident and caring person who loved the outdoors and adventure. 'She had a new job she loved and had just returned from her dream adventure to the Himalayas and Everest Base Camp.' They added: 'Lauren touched the hearts of everyone she met with her happy and outgoing personality. 'She was, at last, in a happy place and was looking forward to a full and exciting future. 'Prematurely taken away from us, she will be sadly missed by all who knew her.' Kandoo Adventures also posted a tribute on Instagram after Ms McFarland's death. They said: 'Lauren was a warm and caring person with an easy smile that would light up a room. 'She had recently returned from Nepal and completed the Gokyo Lakes trek to Everest Base Camp on behalf of the charity Held in Our Hearts. 'Lauren was a true adventurer whose eyes sparkled brightest when she was in the mountains or paddling across open water on her paddle board. The world was a better place with Lauren in it and she will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.' Since Ms McFarland's death, friends and family have taken part in several half marathons, triathlons and other challenges to raise money for her local mountain rescue team. Close friend Francesca Sykes said: 'We are continuing to live like Lauren - full of adventure and love. That is why we have raised money for Keswick Mountain Rescue. 'Lauren was so incredibly kind. (She) would always want to help others but (was) also full of adventure, so raising money in her name for mountain rescue was fitting.'
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Coroner concerned staffing levels on 'under pressure' hospital ward led to death
A CORONER has urged a Cumbrian NHS Trust to take action after it emerged that an 'understaffed and under pressure' hospital ward may have been a factor in a woman's death. Sarah Kathleen Hill, 78, from Dalston, died in the Cumberland Infirmary on November 8, 2024, after undergoing an elective procedure to remove gallstones. Mrs Hill underwent the procedure, an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) on November 5. The procedure was partially successful, though the largest stone remained, and the procedure 'abandoned', according to coroner, Margaret Taylor. Ms Taylor sent a Prevention of Future Deaths report to the North Cumberland Integrated Care NHS Trust (NCIC) with concerns relating to the care of Mrs Hill after the procedure, during which her condition deteriorated, leading to her death. Ms Taylor wrote that Mrs Hill complained of 'nausea, vomiting and pain' post-operatively, and she was subjected to a CT scan to rule out pathological issues. The CT showed no evidence of perforation, but Mrs Hill was admitted for pancreatitis, a 'recognised complication of ERCP'. On November 6, her condition worsened, and on November 7, Mrs Hill collapsed while going to the toilet. A further CT scan on November 7 showed 'significant worsening' of her pancreatitis and other complications. The surgical team decided Mrs Hill was 'not for escalation', and at 5pm, she had an unwitnessed fall 'at a time she was meant to be closely observed'. Mrs Hill became unresponsive shortly afterwards, going into cardiac arrest, and blood results showed she had developed multi organ failure. Mrs Hill died in the early hours of November 8. Ms Taylor wrote to NCIC requesting action to be taken in relation to five areas of concern during this period. She stated: "There was a lack of evidence that suggested appropriate falls risk assessments had been undertaken and a failure to report falls/collapses on the ward "There was a lack of documentation about the use of cot sides and the placement of the call bell within Mrs Hill's reach . "There was a lack of frequent recorded observations necessitated by Mrs Hill's deteriorating condition. "Mrs Hill was placed in a side room where she was not easily observed without consideration given for the need for additional monitoring which led to her being left alone for extended periods of time. "I was advised that the ward was understaffed and under pressure." "I was told that despite this being appropriately escalated, nurses were caring for ten patients when the expected allocation would be six patients for each nurse on duty . READ MORE: Inquest to ask why pensioner's fatal injury went undetected by two hospitals READ MORE: Inquest opens into death of mountain biker who fell on Lake District trail "No further help was provided to the ward following escalation. "The evidence presented to me was that this was not an unusual situation on the ward." NCIC is obliged to respond to the concerns raised by July 22, 2025. A spokesperson for NCIC said: "We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Mrs Hill. "We fully accept the findings from the coroner and have implemented the learning points raised in the report."
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Coroner's concerns over Cumberland Infirmary staff shortages
A coroner has raised concerns that a woman's death in hospital may be linked to an "understaffed and under pressure" coroner for Cumbria Margaret Taylor issued a prevention of future deaths report to the trust which runs the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, following the death of a document urges the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) to take action after it emerged nurses were looking after 10 patients each instead of the expected six on the day Sarah Kathleen Hill trust said it "fully accepted" the coroner's findings and had implemented "learning points" raised in the report. The report said Mrs Hill, 78, had been admitted to hospital last November with gallstones, but a procedure to remove them only partly became increasingly unwell in the following days and collapsed while going to the same day she had an unwitnessed fall "at a time when she was meant to be closely observed", Ms Taylor said in her Hill became unresponsive and died the day after the fall. 'Understaffing not unusual' An inquest into her death held last month concluded she died as a result of "recognised complications of a necessary medical procedure".Ms Taylor said the evidence heard "revealed matters giving rise to concern about the standard of nursing care" that Mrs Hill raised concerns about the patient being left alone in a side room where she could not easily be checked on, adding there was a lack of evidence to suggest a falls risk assessment had been undertaken and a lack of frequent recorded observations warranted by Mrs Hill's Taylor added: "I was advised that the ward was understaffed and under pressure."She said although understaffing had been flagged, no help arrived on the ward."The evidence presented to me was that this was not an unusual situation on the ward," she said.A spokesman for NCIC offered their condolences to Mrs Hill's family."We fully accept the findings from the coroner and have implemented the learning points raised in the report," they trust must respond to the coroner's concerns by 22 July, detailing which actions it intends to take to address them. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
