Damp and disrepairs at home did NOT cause or contribute to Luke Brook's mould-related death, coroner concludes

Damp and disrepairs at tragic Luke Brook's home did NOT cause or contribute to his death from mould-related pneumonia, a coroner has concluded. An inquest into the 27-year-old's death has been taking place at Rochdale Coroners' Court this week.

Mr Brooks suffered with flu-like symptoms in the days leading up to his death. The court heard he felt 'weak' and was suffering with a cough, vomiting and chest pains.

Mr Brooks told his father James Brooks he was starting to feel better as he came downstairs on the morning of October 25. After returning to his room, he appeared to have a seizure, and the ambulance service was called. He died later that day.

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The inquest heard his Oldham property suffered with issues of disrepair, damp and mould. But a council officer who visited the property days following Mr Brooks' death said she found nothing 'significant'.

Following a post-mortem, his medical cause of death was given as acute respiratory distress syndrome, caused by aspergillus pneumonia.

This was initially linked to 'heavily mould-infested accommodation' by the pathologist, Dr Abdul Quader Ganjifrockwala. However, he 'deferred' that part of the cause of death in court earlier this week after expert mycologist Prof Malcolm Richardson found 'very little' aspergillus in the property during a test in April - instead finding mostly penicillium, which is not a pathogen.

The professor, who is a consultant clinical scientist in medical mycology, said he carried out tests at the house in April 2023 – six months after Mr Brooks' death - and found 'very, very little' evidence of aspergillus in the house, with just one spore found in the bedroom. He