Camden News - Leigh Bowles | Inexplicable | St Pancras Coroner's Court

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Camden News - by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
Published: 7 August 2008

Coroner rules that man’s death was ‘inexplicable’

THE family of 35-year old Leigh Bowles were told his death was “inexplicable” at St Pancras Coroner’s Court on Tuesday.
The plumber’s mother, Alice, found him lying on his bed at home in Bridgeway Street, Somers Town on the afternoon of January 25.
Although he had bought two cans of beer only one can, which was full, had been opened.
Mother and son, who are also neighbours, had drunk coffee together as normal before he went to work that morning.
He had complained that he had a headache and felt cold the night before. Police found no evidence of suspicious circumstances, robbery or violence.
Coroner Dr Andrew Reid told the court that despite an “extensive examination” by home office pathologist Dr Simon Pool, Mr Bowles’ death remains a mystery.
The autopsy found no signs of drug abuse or alcohol in his blood. He had not choked on his gastric fluid and his heart, which had not experienced a “sudden” heart attack, was normal.
For the coroner to deliver a verdict of sudden cardiac death toxicology tests must be clear of any drugs – but Mr Bowles had a small amount of cannabis in his blood.
With no family history of sudden cardiac death the coroner ruled the cause of death as unascertained, but confirmed the possibility that Mr Bowles suffered from an abnormal heart rhythm.
He said: “There’s always got to be someone in the family who is the first. All we can do is go to the GP and raise the possibility.”
Mr Bowle’s mother said: “We are devastated and will always miss Leigh, but we are truly thankful for the 35 wonderful years of love, happiness, fun and laughter he gave to us.”
Verdict: Open

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