A dad died while on holiday in Jamaica after attempting a hotel pool bar challenge to drink every cocktail on its menu, an inquest has heard. Timothy Southern, 53, from Lichfield, Staffordshire, visited the Caribbean nation with his family in 2022 when he attempted to down all 21 drinks. But he only managed 12 before returning to his room, where he died later that night after receiving “disgusting” treatment from a local nurse.

The Staffordshire inquest heard that Mr Southern had started drinking in the morning on the day he died.

He had a brandy and beer under his belt when he met two Canadian women at the hotel bar that evening, one of whom was celebrating a birthday.

They had decided to mark the occasion by attempting the cocktail challenge, which demanded they finish the nearly two dozen drinks before midnight.

Mr Southern got nearly halfway through his attempt before he returned to his hotel room, and a loved one raised the alarm soon after.

Don’t miss…
Nicola Bulley’s devastated partner says she was ‘looking forward to the future'[REPORT]
Nicola Bulley’s partner says ‘she was listening to meeting’ with phone on bench[VIDEO]
Heartbreaking four-word text Nicola Bulley’s partner sent after she vanished[INSIGHT]

Speaking to the inquest, they said they found the dad “on his back choking” and moved him into the recovery position, after which he vomited.

He was making a “gurgling sound” and appeared unresponsive as they screamed for an ambulance, and a local nurse arrived to provide medical assistance.

The unnamed family member asked whether an ambulance was called for Mr Southern, but they told the inquest the medic replied with a straightforward “no”.

After the nurse failed to take over, they noticed the 53-year-old had started losing temperature and couldn’t find his pulse.

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

They said they “thought he had passed away” after looking at his face, but while the nurse said she could find a pulse, she hadn’t yet intervened.

Their inaction prompted the family member to say: “Don’t just sit there looking at him, start CPR”.

They added: “She only gave him chest compressions. Maybe if she had known what she was doing, maybe he would still be here. The service and treatment he received was disgusting.”

Jamaican coroners concluded that the dad died of “acute gastroenteritis due to alcohol consumption”, but as toxicology reports may take up to three years to arrive in the UK, Staffordshire area coroner Emma Serrano could only rule his death was alcohol-related.

Source: Read Full Article