A 42-year-old marathon runner and former martial arts champion died from a heart attack after hospital doctors dismissed his chest pains as indigestion, a coroner has ruled.
Missed Opportunities and a Fatal Collapse
Kristian Hudson, a call handler for West Midlands Police described by his family as 'the fittest man on the planet', visited New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton on 14 February complaining of chest pain. Because his symptoms initially occurred after a meal, medics incorrectly attributed them to 'indigestion type pain'.
An inquest at Bradford Coroner's Court heard that Mr Hudson was, in fact, suffering from undetected heart disease. Tragically, he collapsed and died just weeks later in March while out jogging near Wessenden Head Reservoir in Huddersfield.
Coroner Identifies Critical Failure
Assistant Coroner Caroline Chandler found that Mr Hudson's symptoms were not assessed in line with recognised NHS guidance. Crucially, a simple Troponin test, which checks for a protein released by damaged heart muscle, was not carried out.
"Contrary to recommended guidance, a Troponin test was not undertaken which may have identified his heart disease and as such he did not receive treatment," the coroner stated. She concluded that, on the balance of probabilities, his heart disease could have been identified and treated in time, preventing his death.
A Family's Devastation and Call for Change
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Hudson's mother, Debra, said the family were devastated. She described her son as an incredibly healthy man who ran marathons, cycled, and was a former Ju-Jitsu champion from his time living in Australia.
"It is heartbreaking to think Kristian lost his life because people didn't do their jobs properly," she said. "We'd like to see some accountability in the hope no other families have to suffer this same way."
The family has criticised what they see as a lack of consequences, stating: "There never seems to be any accountability for individuals who make these decisions resulting in catastrophic consequences."
The coroner has given the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust until Friday to formally respond to the findings. The Trust's Group Chief Executive, Joe Chadwick-Bell, offered sincere condolences to the family but said they were unable to comment further due to ongoing discussions.
