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On final day of inquest, cardiologist says readings taken after collapse at G20 protests appeared to rule out heart attack
A heart expert has told a jury hearing evidence about the death of Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests that readings from a defibrillator used on him after his collapse were "entirely inconsistent" with a heart attack.
In the final day of evidence in the inquest, Professor Kevin Channer, a consultant cardiologist, appeared to rule out the possibility that Tomlinson, 47, died of a heart attack moments after being struck by a police officer.
Channer, whose report into Tomlinson's electrocardiogram (ECG) readings had previously been read out to the inquest, told jurors he believed the newspaper seller died of blood loss.
His findings contradicted the explanation for Tomlinson's death put forward by Dr Freddy Patel, the controversial pathologist who said the newspaper seller had died of an arrhythmic heart attack.
The inquest has heard that Tomlinson was likely to have suffered a "blunt force trauma" to his abdomen after being pushed from behind by a police officer, Simon Harwood, in April 2009.
Three other forensic pathologists who examined the body – forensic experts Dr Nat Cary, Dr Kenneth Shorrock and the pathologist instructed by Harwood, Dr Ben Swift – have also contradicted Patel, finding Tomlinson died as a result of internal bleeding into the abdomen, possibly from an injury sustained to his liver.
Channer supported the internal bleeding explanation, adding: "In my opinion, it is entirely inconsistent that his collapse was due to a primary cardiac problem."
He also said it was significant that Tomlinson was conscious and talking to protesters after he collapsed.
"It is inconceivable that a man would collapse with ventricular fibrillation and be capable of talking for a few minutes before loss of consciousness," he said.
Under questioning from Patrick Gibbs QC, counsel for Harwood, Channer said that Tomlinson's complaint of pain in his right arm a few hours before he was struck at the G20 was unlikely to be relevant.
Gibbs also asked about Tomlinson's reported complaint of numbness to his right side around two weeks before the protests.
Gibbs asked: "In the context of the heart, is there any significance of that?" The professor replied: "Well, in simple terms, no. Will that do?"
Jurors were told to return on Thursday 28 April, when the presiding judge, Peter Thornton QC, will sum up the case. They are expected to retire to consider their verdict five days later.
