Overview
- Senior coroner Jon Heath recorded a narrative conclusion on Thursday that Sam Diatta died from hypertensive heart disease combined with the effect of being restrained.
- CCTV shown at the inquest showed Diatta throwing punches at a shop door supervisor before being held to the floor by the supervisor and three other men.
- The family said Diatta was held face down for more than seven minutes and shouted ‘I can’t breathe,’ and they maintain he was not well enough for community living after discharge.
- The inquest heard Diatta had been discharged from Foss Park Hospital four days before the July 26, 2022 incident while on a community treatment order, and his treating psychiatrist said a robust assessment was carried out under the Mental Health Act.
- The coroner declined to make an immediate Prevention of Future Deaths report but asked Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust to explain its process for notifying pharmacies about discharges and indicated a PFD may follow.