Prisoner found hanged in cell at HMP Garth had 'little chance of survival
An inquest reveals how Patrick Clayton, 29, serving a life sentence, was found hanged in his cell at Garth Prison despite efforts to revive him.
A prisoner found hanged in his cell at a Lancashire prison had little chance of survival despite frantic efforts to revive him, an inquest was told.
Patrick Clayton, who was serving a life sentence, was found hanged at Garth Prison, near Leyland, in September 2024.
The 29-year-old died in hospital the following day.
Senior Lancashire coroner Chris Long is holding an inquest with a jury at County Hall, Preston.
The inquest was told that after Mr Clayton was found in his cell, prisoner officers, health professionals and ambulance staff tried to revive him.
He had been unresponsive for 16 minutes before paramedics arrived.
He started to breathe shortly before being transferred to Royal Preston Hospital.
Professor Mark Pugh, a Royal Preston Hospital consultant, said Mr Clayton was put on a ventilator in hospital.
A CT scan was carried out and showed evidence of major brain damage and swelling.
The following day his organs started to fail and he died.
Professor Pugh agreed that to have any chance of recovery from hanging, he would have had to have been revived within a few minutes.
The inquest has heard how Mr Clayton was restrained and put into his cell on the segregation unit after becoming abusive and threatening staff.
He was "agitated" after failing to make a video call with his children.
After being locked up, his cell bell designed to alert prisoner officers was activated. But no staff saw it, and it was switched off by another inmate.
Fellow inmate Les Baines said in a statement that he was allowed to wander around the unit with staff permission.
When officers were busy he would answer cell bells, which he did in Mr Clayton's case.
Staff had left Mr Clayton to "cool down" in his cell before revisiting him. Prison psychologist Dr Nicola Ellis told the inquest that Mr Clayton felt unsafe in the normal prison, he wanted to stay in segregation.
Ms Ellis said segregation was not a good idea long-term and she explained to Mr Clayton that a residential care unit was an option.
No timescale had been discussed. She agreed under cross-examination that leaving him to "cool off" was a good idea after his altercation with staff.
(Proceeding)