Olive Martin: UK woman wrongly declared dead found alive in hospital mortuary, inquest probes shocking error

A woman who was mistakenly declared dead in her own kitchen was later found alive inside a hospital mortuary, an inquest has heard.

Olive Martin had been making toast in her Darlington home, where she lived with her husband Kevin, when she suffered a seizure and collapsed on October 13.

Emergency crews responded, but paramedics transported the 54-year-old to the Darlington Hospital Mortuary instead of taking her to the emergency room.

Staff were stunned to discover Ms Martin was still alive when she arrived after the 2023 incident.

However, the inquest at Crook Coroner’s Court heard the grandmother died shortly afterwards as a result of brain damage.

Tom Barclay Semple, acting for Ms Martin’s family, told the hearing that two hours passed in which she received “no treatment at all”.

He questioned whether the 54-year-old might have survived had she been taken directly to the hospital, The Sun reported.

Mr Barclay Semple asked Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield: “What should that treatment have looked like?”

The coroner responded that he could not say how long Ms Martin had been deprived of oxygen.

Mr Semple added, “We know that when Olive was found in her kitchen, she has put toast in her toaster”.

James Donnelly, representing the North East Ambulance Service, confirmed Ms Martin was “observed in the mortuary to have some signs of life”.

John Gray, for Durham Constabulary, told the inquest there had been evidence of brain function when she arrived at the mortuary.

This included Ms Martin responding to stimuli verbally or by gripping.

But Durham Constabulary ruled at the time of Ms Martin’s death that no criminal charges would be brought.

Andrew Hodge, Director of Paramedicine at the North East Ambulance Service, previously said: “As soon as we were made aware of this incident, we opened an investigation and contacted the patient’s family.

“We are deeply sorry for the distress that this has caused them. A full review of this incident is being undertaken, and we are unable to comment further at this stage.

“The colleagues involved are being supported appropriately.”

In an earlier tribute, Ms Martin’s family said: “Our Mam will always be remembered for her kind heart, her infectious personality and her positivity day in and day out.

“She was our warrior, and she will be deeply missed by every person she has ever met. We would request privacy at this difficult time.”

A CQC spokesperson said at the time: “We are aware of this case and the ongoing inquest.

“We await the final coroner’s report, which will be reviewed in full to determine whether further action may be required by CQC.

“Services provided by the trust are subject to ongoing monitoring and where we receive information to suggest any risk to patients, we will always follow it up to ensure people are receiving safe care.”