Drunk 254 bus passenger David Aspinall's death

Published: 29 January 2010
by JOSIE HINTON

A SECURITY guard collapsed and died on a bus in Holloway hours after being sent home from work for being drunk, an inquest heard.
David Aspinall, 45, was discovered slumped on the top deck of a 254 bus on September 28 last year when it came to its last stop in Camden Road shortly after 9pm.
St Pancras Coroner’s Court heard last Thursday that driver Bulent Sevinili called the bus company for emergency help when he was unable to rouse the sleeping passenger.
But as he waited, Mr Aspinall – who appeared heavily intoxicated – staggered towards the stairs before collapsing and falling down to the bottom deck.
Ambulance crews attended but were unable to resuscitate him.
The court heard that two and a half hours before he collapsed on the bus the trainee security guard was sent home from work by his employer SGC Securities, after being caught drinking while on duty.
Toxicology reports showed the level of alcohol in his blood was above the level associated with death.
Recording a verdict of death by the abuse of alcohol, coroner Andrew Reid said: “He was sent home at about 6.30pm for being under the effects of alcohol and he collapsed some two and a half hours later on the bus. The evidence does suggest that he carried on drinking during this time.”