Young man was 'too weak to go to hospital' before his 'mould linked' death, inquest hears

A 27-year-old man with 'no previous medical issues' told NHS 111 he was 'too weak' to go to hospital days before his death, an inquest has heard. In a second day of evidence, Luke Brooks' inquest heard that he suffered a sudden health episode before his death last October 25, which was linked to the aspergillus mould.

However, that was likely not the same type as the 'jet black' mould that could be seen inside Mr Brooks' Oldham home, an expert witness revealed. Rochdale Coroners' Court heard today (August 8) that a number of calls were made to the NHS 111 service in the days before his death.

On the morning of October 22 last year, his mum Patricia Brooks told an NHS 111 adviser that her son 'had been very poorly', that he was 'chesty' and had a rash 'all over his body'. The family were advised that Mr Brooks would need a 'category three' ambulance response, and that the wait was eight hours and 45 minutes - compared to a typical response time of around 'two hours', the court heard.

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Mr Brooks was also advised to make his own way to an emergency department. The court heard Mrs Brooks told the adviser her son was 'too weak' to go to hospital, before Mr Brooks himself told 111 he did not think he could attend hospital.

Mrs Brooks had said her son 'doesn't need an ambulance', but Mr Brooks was not asked directly himself, the court heard. Harriet Blower, who reviewed Mr Brooks' case for North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), admitted Mrs Brooks' comments were 'taken for a refusal' on his behalf.

Further calls were made on the morning of October 23, when Mr Brooks said his main concern was 'his chest when coughing', and he was