James Halliwell died at Frimley Park Hospital
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Father with heart problems died aged just 52
By Beth WoodgerNovember 25, 2009
A FARNBOROUGH father who had a heart condition died from multiple organ failure after enjoying a family holiday in Austria, an inquest has heard.
IT consultant James Stanley Halliwell was just 52 when he died, Woking Coroner’s Court was told on Wednesday.
Mr Halliwell’s health deteriorated during the holiday with his family, and they returned home early and he was admitted to Frimley Park Hospital.
His wife Juliette told the inquest they had got married in August 2007, and she spoke fondly of her late husband.
Mrs Halliwell informed deputy coroner Karin Englehart that up until May this year, her husband’s health had been quite good but that he did say he was tired, although the couple put that down to the time of year.
She said: "He was an asthma sufferer, his asthma was quite bad but he cycled and walked and was considered quite a fit person. He looked after his body."
Just before the couple were due to go on holiday, Mr Halliwell told his wife he thought he had a chest infection and that his asthma had got worse.
He visited his GP who told him to continue taking a preventative medicine.
Mrs Halliwell said her husband had worked in London on July 23 and when he returned home he told her he felt very tired.
"Coughing and wheezy"
But the couple left for their holiday and Mr Halliwell drove to Austria, his wife saying that he liked to drive.
She said: "He was in good spirits and pleased he was on holiday".
But when the family arrived at their campsite, Mr Halliwell felt tired and needed to rest so Mrs Halliwell said they decided to relax the following day.
"He complained he had a chest infection and his breathing was not good and he did think he had a chest infection.
"He was coughing and wheezy," she told the inquest.
Mr Halliwell visited an Austrian doctor, who diagnosed a chest infection and gave him some tablets.
After taking the tablets, his ankles became swollen, which he thought was a reaction to the medication.
Mrs Halliwell said her husband suffered restless nights and had to be propped up to sleep in a more upright position.
Cardiac arrest
But when the IT consultant’s health worsened, the couple made the decision to go home early via Germany before boarding the Calais ferry.
While she was driving home, Mrs Halliwell said her husband listened to his son read Winnie the Pooh but suffered from hot and cold periods.
She said: "He kept touching my arm and said ‘you are really special, I love you so much’. He must have said it about 15 times on and off."
Mr Halliwell admitted himself to Frimley Park when he arrived back in the UK but after attempts to stabilise him and following tests in hospital, he suffered a cardiac arrest on two occasions and died on August 12.
His wife said: "He was a fantastic dad and husband."
Dr Englehart said: "Those are the memories that you have to hang on to."
Post-mortem reports revealed problems in the heart and lungs and a multiple organ failure due to heart conditions of a dilated cardiomyopathy and viral myocarditis.
Dr Englehart recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.
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