Charlie Joseph Baker, 24, died after being discharged from an A&E department with a leg sprain, an inquest opening has heard. He collapsed and went into cardiac arrest while being admitted to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.
A brief hearing at Pontypridd Coroner's Court on Thursday heard that the circumstances surrounding his death had been very distressing for his family.
Initial Hospital Visit
The court was told Mr Baker presented to A&E at Barry Hospital on March 18 last year with right lower leg pain and was diagnosed with a sprain. He was discharged and sent home.
Days later, on March 22, 2025, Mr Baker re-presented at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where he was treated for pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. During admission he collapsed on the ward and went into cardiac arrest, the inquest heard.
Death and Post-Mortem
Mr Baker, who the court heard was born in Lewisham in southeast London, died on March 26, 2025.
A post-mortem was carried out at the University Hospital of Wales following Mr Baker's death. The court heard that the pathologist provided a provisional cause of death as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, leading to 1a acute heart failure.
According to the NHS, deep vein thrombosis is a serious medical condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein within the body, most commonly in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis. A pulmonary embolism happens when a blood vessel in the lungs becomes blocked, usually by a blood clot.
Coroner's Decision
After hearing the evidence, coroner Rachel Knight said it was necessary to open a full inquest and for investigations to be carried out into Mr Baker's death.
She said that a death that might otherwise be considered as arising from natural causes can become unnatural due to the circumstances surrounding it. Ms Knight said that "may be the case here".
She expressed her condolences to Mr Baker's family, some of whom attended the opening via an online link. Ms Knight added that it is obvious from their correspondence with the court how distressing his death has been for them.
"I am very sorry for your loss", she added.
Ms Knight adjourned the hearing for further investigations to take place. She told Mr Baker's family they would be informed of the next steps and when a date is set for the full inquest to be heard.
