Schoolgirl dies after choking on a pickled egg

A teenage girl died after choking on a pickled egg, an inquest heard.

Anna Sexton suffered a cardiac arrest after swallowing the egg at her home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

An ambulance was called and her grandfather attempted cardiopulmonaryresuscitation, but Anna could not be revived.

The 14-year-old, who weighed nearly 22 stone and had a BMI of 47, was declared dead shortly after arriving at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital on the evening of June 8 this year.

Coroners heard that Anna had struggled with her weight and was receiving help and support.

Anna lived with her paternal grandparents, Michael and Sally Sexton, who were her legal guardians, but would regularly see her parents and siblings.

Coroner's officer David Peake said: "She was severely obese and weighed 22 stone and had a tendency to gorge on pickled eggs at night. According to her grandparents she would sneak downstairs to eat them."

Shortly after 7pm on the night Anna died, Mrs Sexton saw her granddaughter in the kitchen but left the room when she received a telephone call.

An ambulance was called and took Anna to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital but she had suffered a cardiac arrest. Shortly after arriving at the hospital she was declared dead.

"The ambulance staff struggled to get an airway and did discover egg in her tube ways," Mr Peake said.

"Airway blockage was consistent with the account given by the grandparents. Pieces of egg were found in her tracheal pipe."

Police did not treat Anna's death as suspicious.

Pathologist Dr Linmarie Ludeman, who carried out a post mortem examination, said toxicology tests for drugs and alcohol proved negative.

She added: "Given the history and the findings of egg material it is myopinion that death was due to asphyxia.

Assistant Gloucestershire coroner Caroline Saunders recorded a conclusion of misadventure.