An inquest into the death has been opened
An East London care home resident died from heatstroke after being left in the home’s garden on the hottest May day in Britain for 80 years, an inquest heard.
Zola Bitshuangu, 48, was found unresponsive by carers at Forest Lodge in Forest Gate, East London with a temperature of 42C, the court was told. He was rushed to hospital but died two days later.
An inquest into his death was opened at East London Coroner’s Court on Thursday, September 10. Summarising the circumstances of Zola’s death, senior coroner Graeme Irvine said that Zola was found unresponsive by carers in the rear garden of the nursing home.
He was rushed to hospital by ambulance before being admitted to critical care with multi-organ failure. He died at 5.30pm on May 26.
Mr Irvine said the death was referred to the coroner’s court “due to concerns about the quality of care provided to Mr Bitshuangu at the nursing home”.
He said: “It is imperative that I open an inquest into how this vulnerable man was allowed to become hyperthermic and subsequently pass away.”
May 24 was the hottest May day in UK history, with temperatures rising above 30C in East London. Mr Irvine said he will need a statement from the care home manager including a list of all the staff working that day.
He said: “I will need statements from them so I can understand what happened to Zola and why he was left out in the extremely hot weather in the rear garden.”
Zola’s family were given interested persons status – a legal status entitling them to view evidence ahead of the final inquest and question any witnesses called to testify. The Care Quality Commission will also be interested persons in the inquest.
Sign up to our London Court & Crime newsletter for the latest major court updates and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up HERE
