Families of two salmonella victims hope inquest will finally provide them with answers
Sandra Blake, 68, and Stewart Graham, 66, from Blackhall Colliery and Shotton Colliery respectively, died in February 2018 and tests later confirmed they both had salmonella.
There were 19 confirmed cases of salmonella and three suspected cases in East Durham and Hartlepool in early 2018, Public Health England said.
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Hide AdFollowing their deaths, the families of Sandra and Stewart instructed specialist public health lawyers Irwin Mitchell to investigate how they died.
An inquest is due to take place at Teesside Magistrates’ Court over December 8 and 9.
Ahead of the hearing Heath Blake, 71, husband of retired council worker Sandra, said: “We all continue to miss Sandra and struggle to accept that’s she no longer part of our lives.
"Not only was she a wonderful wife and my best friend but she was also an amazing mum and grandmother.
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Hide Ad“We’ve had to be patient but we hope that the inquest will finally answer all of the concerns our family has.”
Stewart Graham, a father of five and well known former Sunderland Football Club coach, was found dead at his home in Shotton Colliery, on February 21 in 2018.
His daughter Paula Conway, 45, said: “When Dad started feeling unwell everyone thought it would pass in a few days and he would start getting back to normal in a week or so. That he didn’t is still a huge shock to us.
"We know the inquest and listening to the circumstances as to how he died is going to be difficult but we feel it’s something we have to do on his behalf.
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Hide Ad“We still have a lot of questions about his death and just hope that the inquest will finally provide us with answers.”
Jatinder Paul, of Irwin Mitchell, said: “Sandra’s and Stewart’s families remain devastated by their deaths, particularly the circumstances surrounding them.
“While it’s only right that a thorough investigation was allowed to take place, the last few years and not knowing the full circumstances as to why Sandra and Stewart died has taken a huge toll on their loved ones.
“They now hope that the inquest will provide them with the vital answers they deserve.”