A Plymouth woman, 78, choked to death on a pasty in a Cornwall cafe after soup was unavailable.
Brenda was 78. She had swallowing problems due to a stroke. She visited Kernow Mill with her husband. Originally, she wanted soup, but it was unavailable. She then ordered a meat pasty.
Brenda was told the pasty was hot, but started choking anyway. She removed some pasty. She choked again, struggling to breathe. She became unresponsive on the floor.
A staff member with first aid training helped her. She slapped Brenda’s back. Getting Brenda in the Heimlich position failed. CPR was performed before paramedics came. They praised the worker’s efforts.
The coroner said Brenda had medical issues. These contributed to the choking incident. He ruled it as accidental death. He commended the cafe worker’s bravery.
Brenda’s family shared a tribute in the Plymouth Herald. She passed suddenly on May 15th, 2024. She was 78 years old. She used to work at Devonport Dockyard.
She was Bob’s loving wife for 45 years and a beloved mother to Paul. She was also a friend to many. The family expressed their grief, noting they had no time to say goodbye.
Her husband and son thanked the Kernow Mill staff, ambulance crews, and Cornwall Air Ambulance. They also thanked Devon and Cornwall Police, citing their tireless help and care.