Inquests

David Henry

Inquest hears much-loved Bamber Bridge man took own life

Andrew Erskine died two days after the collision in Lytham

Motorcyclist died in hospital two days after Lancashire collision

John Garratt, 66, was found hanged at his home in Briery Close, Fulwood, in 2025.

Coroner finds 'no evidence' police could have saved dad-of-three

The family of John Garratt have complained that no-one checked on his welfare for four hours after his sister raised concerns.

Lancashire police 'failed to treat 999 call as emergency'

Father-of-three John Garratt was found hanged at his home in Briery Close, Fulwood, after his sister raised the alarm.

Dad-of-three's heartbreaking text hours before he was found hanged

Preston Coroners Court

Coroner vows to find answers for Chorley woman's family

Preston Coroners Court

Grieving son questions hospital discharge of 94-year-old Preston mum

Preston Coroner's Court

'Something no parent should go through'

An 82-year-old woman died of sepsis weeks after a delayed hip replacement operation at Royal Preston Hospital

Leyland widow died of sepsis weeks after hip replacement - inquest

Tony Blundell

A 'highly successful' Garstang man has died after a freak accident

An inquest for 19-year-old William Thomas Sullivan who sadly died at the scene following a collision on Preston Road in Grimsargh has taken place at Preston Coroners Court

Breaking Inquest of much loved teen killed in crash takes place

Ms Mather has issued a "prevention of future deaths" report to Rossendale Borough Council.

Council told action needed over "treacherous" mill after death

84-year-old Anthony Alderton died in January 2025 in Royal Preston Hospital after being transferred from Blackpool Victoria Hospital following an RTC

Loved pensioner had suffered a "medical episode" before heart attack

Anthony Alderton, aged 84, of Pilling, died after crashing his car into a building in an industrial yard close to Taylor's Lane and Lancaster Lane, Pilling, in December 2024 and then suffering a heart attack later in hospital

Pensioner who crashed car suffers heart attack in hospital and dies

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Crew Manager Ian Ball, 52, from Eccleston near Chorley, died in Royal Preston Hospital in June 2024. How he contracted the disease remains a mystery.

Much loved firefighter died of extremely rare disease

Andrew Millington, 46, was found dead in a wooded area off Valley Road, Penwortham, near Preston, in July 2025.

More could have been done to save much loved Lancashire man
Mental Health professionals should have raised urgent concerns about a 46-year-old Lancashire man who was sadly found dead the following day, a coroner has said.
Emma Downey

The front of the premises of the Gordon Working Men's Club in Morecambe.

Inquest reveals tragic cause of club fire which killed two men

A pre-inquest review is to take place later this month for a 16-year-old boy who has now been named as Lucas Michael Johnson who was tragically found dead inside a children’s home.

Tragic teen found dead in children's home

Area coroner Emma Mather recorded a conclusion of death by road traffic collision on Mr Grant Sandiford, 39, of The Parklands, Catterall.

Tragic cyclist, 39, described as "loveable rogue" by broken family

The inquest for Carl Anthony Mason, 43, who was found dead near Ringway Preston on Tuesday, June 24, has concluded.

Inquest for much loved man found dead near old Aldi store concludes

Aaron Taylor, 32, was found dead at Garth Prison, near Leyland, in August 2023.

Safety procedures should have been in place for "vulnerable" prisoner

A coroner ruled an open verdict in the death of much loved Wigan Athletic Football Club supporter Darren Orme, 54

Inquest of much loved man with an "infectious smile" takes place

Aaron Taylor, 32, was found dead at Garth Prison, near Leyland, in August 2023.

Man, 32, left heartbreaking note before his death

William Turner, 54, from Lancaster, died of a rupture of the heart and a heart attack.

Man, 54, suffered double heart attack in hospital and died

Nathan Abbott, 29, was found dead in bed at his home in Geoffrey Street, Chorley, three days after he was last seen from acute alcohol poisoning

Family man, 29, described as "loving dad" found dead in bed

Preston Coroner's Court heard that Matthew Trout was "almost genius level", having gained a university degree in pure maths at the age of 10, but he struggled with day-to-day life.

Tragedy as software engineer, 42, found dead in bed

Patrick Park, 74, was found unconscious outside his flat in Union Street, Darwen, in May. He suffered serious head injuries and died in hospital two days days later.

Lancashire pensioner died after suffering "devastating" head injuries
A Lancashire pensioner died after suffering "devastating" head injuries in a fall, an inquest was told.
Emma Downey

Maggie Oldham, who joined Blackpool Teaching Hospitals as chief executive in April, said she did not intend to “shy away from the challenges and concerns surrounding the Trust”.

Hospital where patient died from sexual assault issues statement

Connor Hanson, 22, died after he entered the water at the docks in May this year.

Tragic 22-year-old man died from drowning

Record keeping fails, missed obs and no escalation led to stroke patient Valerie Kneale's killer going unfound at Blackpool Victoria Hospital

Record keeping fails & missed obs led to patient killer going unfound

Valerie Kneale, 75, from Blackpool, was murdered on the stroke unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on November 16, 2018

We trusted the hospital to keep mum safe, her death has been torture

Valerie Kneale, 75, from Blackpool, died on the stroke unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on November 16, 2018. A post-mortem examination found she had sadly died from a haemorrhage caused by a non-medical related internal injury. Following this a murder investigation was launched

Hospital boss quizzed over failings that led to attack being missed

A post-mortem examination found she had sadly died from a haemorrhage caused by a non-medical related internal injury

I'm a pathologist of 37 years and these injuries are unprecedented

A murder investigation was launched following the post-mortem examination

Breaking False records unearthed in hospital unit where patient was murdered

Tragic 35-year-old man died after being struck by train

Vakerie Kneale who died after she was violently sexually assualted while being cared for on the stroke unit at Blackpool Victoria hospital was unbeknown to be gravely ill when she was attacked, an inquest heard.

Stroke patient was so ill when attacked surgery was her only lifeline

A post-mortem examination found she had sadly died from a haemorrhage caused by a non-medical related internal injury.

I didn’t see blood in Valerie Kneale's bed as being that serious

A murder investigation was launched following the post-mortem examination

Had we been alerted sooner, we'd have secured evidence to catch killer

Nathan Walters, 37, from Manchester was an inmate at HMP Lancaster Farms when he died of colon cancer.

Family of prisoner who died of cancer question handcuff decision

Lithuania-born Dziugas Sutkeviscius was transitioning to become a woman and wanted to be known as "Esther".

Man transitioning to become a woman took her own life, inquest told

Aliesha Fisher, 29, collapsed at her home in Hough Lane, Leyland, in December 2024. She was pronounced dead at the scene, along with her unborn baby.

Heavily pregnant mum-to-be, 29, found dead after collapsing suddenly

31-year-old Joe Overton who "loved the outdoor life" was found dead after a major search in April this year

Man, 31, who "loved the outdoor life" found dead after a major search

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