Conservative leader died from hidden liver condition, inquest hears

Pic: Martin Davies (right) with his partner Richard Boaste and their pet dog

Friday September 3, 2010

By JOSIE HINTON

MARTIN Davies, the leader of Camden's Conservatives who passed away suddenly aged only 45, died from natural causes, a coroner's inquest has heard.

St Pancras Coroner's Court was told yesterday that the popular councillor who took charge of the Tory group after May's council elections was unaware that he was suffering from a liver condition, despite his active and healthy lifestyle.

Cllr Davies died in June after collapsing in the bathroom of his Ornan Road flat, Belsize Park. Paramedics found no signs of life when they arrived at the scene, the court heard. A post-mortem confirmed he died from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Recording a verdict of natural causes, coroner Selina Lynch said:“Unfortunately it does happen that some people do have some natural disease that remains silent until close to their death.”

Richard Boaste, Mr Davies' partner, said: “It still hasn't sunk in but I'm pleased that at last we've got a cause of death. But if anybody should have died from liver failure it should have been me – Martin
didn't even drink, and I smoke like a trooper and drink like a fish. ”