Mom, 54, Found Alive in Morgue After Being Pronounced Dead Following Seizure While Making Toast

A mother from England was reportedly found alive in a hospital mortuary after she was initially believed to be dead, according to an inquest.

On Oct. 13, 2023, 54-year-old Olive Martin collapsed in her kitchen in Darlington, Yorkshire, after making toast and suffering a seizure, according to U.K. newspapers Metro, The Telegraph and The Northern Echo.

Instead of being taken directly to the emergency department, Martin was transported to the Darlington Hospital Mortuary, where staff later discovered that she was still alive.

On Tuesday, Dec. 2, Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield told Crook Coroners Court that it was only “some time later” that Martin died as a result of brain damage, The Telegraph reported.

Tom Barclay Semple, the attorney representing Martin’s family, told the court there was a two-hour window in which she received “no treatment at all,” according to the outlet.

“What should that treatment have looked like?” he reportedly asked, raising the question of whether “her death could have been avoided or prolonged in some meaningful way.”

The coroner said he did not know how long Martin had been deprived of oxygen after she collapsed. Barclay Semple responded, “We know that when Olive was found in her kitchen, she had put toast in her toaster,” Metro reported.

“That was the day when she was expected to go to work. If that was when she was having her seizure we can extrapolate from that,” he continued, per the outlet.

The North East Ambulance Service’s (NEAS) representative, James Donnelly, told the court that Martin was “observed in the mortuary to have some signs of life,” according to The Telegraph.

“What would have happened if she had been immediately brought to the emergency department?” he asked.

Durham Constabulary representative John Gray reportedly added that Martin showed evidence of “brain function” by “responding to stimuli either by verbal or gripping.”

The next court hearing is scheduled for January 30 next year.

In a statement, the NEAS said: “As soon as we were made aware of this incident, we contacted the patient’s family and launched a review into the circumstances.

“Our review of this incident will of course be shared with the coroner to determine what happened and it would not be appropriate for us to comment further whilst that process is underway,” the statement added.

“Our thoughts remain with Olive’s family at this time.”

Martin’s family has also paid tribute to her, Metro reported.

“Our Mam will always be remembered for her kind heart, her infectious personality and her positivity day in and day out,” they said, according to the outlet. “She was our warrior, and she will be deeply missed by every person she has ever met. We would request privacy at this difficult time.”

The Crook Coroner’s Court and Darlington Hospital Mortuary have been contacted for further comment. Durham Constabulary previously confirmed that no criminal charges would be filed.