Nothing more could have been done to save Forest Bank prisoner found dead in cell, inquest hears
03.10.2023 - 20:33
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A prisoner found collapsed in his cell died of 'natural causes', a pathologist has told an inquest into his death. It came as a boss at HMP Forest Bank said there 'had to be' a working ventilation system in Raymond Lucy's cell following concerns aired by his family he had no 'fresh air'.
The medic she echoed the view of a prison doctor that nothing could have been done differently to prevent his 'unexpected' death. Mr Lucy, 63, died after being found unresponsive by his cellmate at the jail in Salford on the morning of Sunday, 11, July 2019.
The retired HGV driver, from Chadderton, Oldham, was being treated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) before he entered the prison in January 2019. At that point, he was also diagnosed with asthma.
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At the start of the inquest on Monday (October 2), Mr Lucy's partner Margaret Murphy told the hearing that within weeks of entering the prison, Mr Lucy starting having chest problems and complained of a cough and a lack of fresh air in his cell.
She said she visited the cell after his death and saw two air vents had been painted over. She said Mr Lucy had tried to poke through tiny blocked-up holes in an air vent under his cell window using a small piece of wire - and that on one occasion, when he asked to be moved to a cell for inmates with disabilities, was told by a guard: "Well you are not in a wheelchair, are you?"
On Tuesday, Lindsay Partington, head of safety and wellbeing at Forest Bank gave evidence at the hearing at Bolton Coroners' Court. "There's