On Air Island Life The Archive Room | 6:00pm - 6:30pm

Accidental death verdict of Douglas man

Thomas Coll died after a night out drinking with friends

A verdict of accidental death was reached at the inquest of a Douglas man this afternoon.

Thirty-two-year-old cobbler Thomas Geoffrey Coll had been out drinking with his friends before being found outside his flat in late 2014.

Mr Coll's body was discovered by his brother and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Coroner of inquests John Needham told the court his death was an unintended and very sad consequence of his intoxication.

The court heard how Mr Coll had been out at a Halloween party in Douglas on the night of October 31st, before heading to a number of bars.

CCTV footage was shown of Mr Coll leaving the Sugar Sugar nightclub alone in the early hours of November 1st.

His neighbours recalled how they saw him lying in the hallway of their block of flats on Woodbourne Road.

Witnesses told the court how they attempted to wake Mr Coll as they made their way home at approximately 3.30am - but he told them: "I'm good here."

Mr Coll’s brother Daniel began searching for him after the deceased failed to show up for work on November 1st.

 

Upon arrival at Mr Coll’s home, Daniel discovered a body lying face down on the landing with a head wound, blood in his mouth, and blue in the face.  Mr Coll was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

Post mortem examinations stated he had likely fallen on the stairs.  Mr Needham was keen to stress, after considering the injuries, there were no signs of a third party involved in his death.

 

Forensic medical examiner and police surgeon Dr David Hedley spoke in the witness box and told the court the death was likely caused by asphyxia – a direct result of 12 sustained injuries.

 

Dr Clague’s examination identified various injuries, predominantly to the right side of Mr Coll’s face – including bruising to his right cheek, right ear, top lip and right shoulder. 

 

The post mortem also revealed how the deceased’s blood alcohol level was more than three and a half times the legal limit.

 

Dr Hedley said blood on the steps where Mr Coll’s head was suggests he had stumbled over, hit his head and subsequently choked due to a blocked airway.

 

 

He also said none of the injuries should be viewed as suspicious.  In a written statement read to the court, Daniel Coll said he found his brother cold to the touch and blue in the face – and – despite turning him onto his front, he thought his brother had been dead for some time.

 

This was backed up in the post mortem and by police surgeon Dr Hedley who discovered rigor mortis in all Mr Coll’s muscles, indicating he’d been dead for some time.

 

 

Mr Needham reached the verdict of accidental death in front of Mr Coll’s family who were present in Douglas Courthouse.  He said Mr Coll had choked on his own vomit due to an airway being blocked after falling onto steps outside his flat.

 

 

In Daniel Coll’s statement; he said he’d not only lost his brother – but also his best friend. Described by friends as always good humoured and funny, Mr Coll’s stepdad told the court how the family have been left devastated by his death.

 

Mr Needham concluded by saying Mr Coll was a hard-working man who enjoyed himself, and that his death was a sad and unintended consequence of his intoxication.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More from Isle of Man News