Pensioners died after a salmonella outbreak linked to Blackhall butchers, inquest decides

Sandra Blake, 68, of Horden, and Stewart Graham, 66, from Shotton Colliery, died following an outbreak of salmonella in East Durham and Hartlepool in February 2018, the inquest held on Wednesday, December 9 heard.

Teesside and Hartlepool Coroner’s Court heard all but one of the 28 salmonella cases reported were of the same version as that was found in cooked pork from Chapman and Sons butchers, which was in Back Middle Street in Blackhall Colliery until it ceased trading in March that year.

Retired cleaner Sandra and husband Heath, 71, a former miner, had eaten food from the business and both fell ill due to salmonella.

Mr Graham, a retired Sunderland AFC coach who coached England captain Steph Houghton , was a regular customer, but his family could not be sure when he last visited.

Pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton was called in to review reports from doctors who treated Mrs Blake before she suffered multi-organ failure at the University Hospital of North Tees.

She found she died due to sepsis, with a secondary cause of a recent salmonella infection, and Parkinson’s Disease and Stiff Person’s Syndrome, which required immunosuppressants.

Dr Bolton described how the salmonella “set off a sequence of events” which meant she had not regained her health.

Mr Graham died due to sepsis from gastroenteritis from salmonella with secondary causes linked to bladder cancer and heart disease, the hearing was told.

The father-of-five had told his loved ones he was unwell and was later found after the fire service force entry to his home when his family became concerned for him.

The jury inquest heard their existing health conditions would have made it more difficult for them to recover from infection.

Evidence from Dr Debbie Wilson, of Public Health England, said checks established salmonella – which is known to have 2,500 different types – had been present at the butchers for “several weeks” before the outbreak.

She found the most likely source was cross-contamination from raw meat, other foods or from a food handler or handlers.

The court was told one of the cases involved a food handler, while two others were in people linked to the premises. There were 23 cases linked to the shop without question.

The inspection raised concerns about hygiene including hand washing facilities, appropriate dilution of sanitiser and proper management of cloths in the ‘ready to eat’ area.

The jury returned a conclusion that Mr Graham, who died on February 21, and Mrs Blake, who died on February 28, died as a result of consuming pork products purchased from a butchers shop in Blackhall and both had existing health problems.

They went on to say Mr Graham died of a salmonella infection contributed to by natural causes.

They concluded Mrs Blake died of natural causes contributed by an infection of salmonella.

Following the hearing, overseen by assistant coroner Karin Welsh, Mr Graham’s daughters Sarah Cowling, 39, and Joanne Stephenson, 41, expressed relief, saying it had been a “long journey”.

Durham County Council dropped a prosecution case against Chapman and Sons in July 2019, and no evidence was put forward by prosecutors at Durham Crown Court.

Following the hearing Mrs Blake’s husband paid tribute.

He said: “She was my soulmate and the best wife, mum and grandma anyone could wish for.

“To see her so poorly was absolutely heart-breaking. We were all praying she would pull through but to be then told she had developed sepsis was devastating.”

Sandra’s daughter, Tracey Moseley, added: “Losing our Mum in the way we did is something my family will never get over.

“Most people have heard of salmonella but I’m not sure everyone realises how dangerous it is. We just hope that lessons can be learned to protect others.”

Mr Graham’s daughter, Paula Conway, 45, paid tribute to her father and said: “Dad was the linchpin of our family. He always saw the best in people and was always there for us.

“We all adored him but it wasn’t just us. He was well-known and well-respected in the area from his days coaching and nurturing hundreds of young footballers.

“Nothing can turn the clock back but we’re grateful that at least we have answers as to what happened. All we can hope now is others don’t have to suffer like our family has.”

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