Coroner records natural cause after man found at home in South Shore
The Blackpool and Fylde coroner has recorded a conclusion of natural causes following the death of 33-year-old Jordan Leach, who was discovered unresponsive at his home in Marsden Road, South Shore.
Mr Leach was found on 18 April by his father after the family had not heard from him for two days. A post-mortem and subsequent enquiries identified an underlying cardiac condition as the cause of death.
“This was a much-loved man who received incredible support from his family”
What investigators established
Police investigators reported no signs of forced entry or third-party involvement at the property. Items in the house, including a note of £20 placed through the letterbox by Mr Leach’s mother two days earlier, remained where they had been left.
A toxicology screen showed no illicit drugs and only a therapeutic level of dihydrocodeine, a prescribed painkiller. The post-mortem revealed no external injuries.
Consultant pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd initially recorded the cause of death as unattributable, but after receiving further medical information about an existing condition treated in London he concluded the death was due to that illness.
Medical cause recorded by coroner
The condition identified was hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, a genetic disorder in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thickened. Blackpool and Fylde Chief Coroner Alan Wilson recorded the conclusion of natural causes at the inquest.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| About a week before death | Mr Leach reported feeling tired; had been prescribed antibiotics after a visit to Blackpool Victoria Hospital with a chest complaint |
| Two days before 18 April | He contacted his mother to ask for money; she left £20 in the letterbox |
| 18 April | Father found Mr Leach unresponsive at his home in Marsden Road |
Local impact and practical information
The coroner’s conclusion may be of particular interest to residents with a family history of heart disease, as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy is genetic. The inquest noted prior medical treatment for a chest problem and symptoms of tiredness reported by Mr Leach in the week before his death.
- If you have concerns about a family history of heart conditions, local GPs and cardiology services at Blackpool Victoria Hospital can advise on screening options.
- Those on prescribed medicines should follow guidance from their clinicians and report new or persistent symptoms, such as increased breathlessness or unexplained fatigue.
- Anyone affected by this report who needs support can approach local bereavement services or their GP for advice.
The family’s description of Mr Leach as “much-loved” underlined the private grief behind the medical findings. No criminal matter arose from the investigation into his death, which the coroner concluded was attributable to his underlying heart condition.
