Severe heart problems killed "extremely popular" man found at Crabbé

Monday 09 July 2018

A "caring father" who went missing before being found dead at Crabbé suddenly died from the complications of a severe artery disease, an inquest has heard.

João José Ferreira (60) died in January of severe coronary atherosclerosis, a disease that hardens and narrows arteries.

An inquest was subsequently opened into his death, in which he was described as a "loving husband, father and grandfather" to his three daughters, his son, his seven grandchildren and his great grandchild. He was found on 21 January in his 4x4 by paramedics in a car park.

An inquest into his death, led by Relief Coroner Dr Martin Barrett at Morier House (pictured above), heard that Mr Ferreira, who was born on 5 May 1955 in Faial, Santana Madeira, was a married man. He worked as a delivery driver for a local laundry company, where he was extremely popular among colleagues." Mr Ferreira was described as a "kind, loving and caring father."

PC Glenn Cleave, the Police Assistant Coroner’s Officer, said Mr Ferreira was diabetic and managed his insulin levels with pens. He left his home in St. John in the morning of Saturday 20 January without taking his insulin packs. His family believed that Mr Ferreira, a keen gardener, had gone to his allotment in St. Peter’s Valley, where he liked to spend his time. 

Family and friends tried to get in touch with him throughout the day but their calls and texts were left unanswered. Shortly after 01:00 on 21 January, Mr Ferreira's family reported him as missing.

Police and their Honorary counterparts searched a number of areas and Mr Ferreira was eventually found in the driver's seat of his 4x4, parked in a car park overlooking the coastline, east of the Crabbé range in St. John. He was dead when paramedics arrived but there were no suspicious circumstances. PC Cleave said: "There was nothing to suggest his death was deliberate, although it remains unexplained."

Pictured: Mr Ferreira was found in his car in the area of Crabbé. (Google Maps)

Dr Bruce Lyons, a Consultant Pathologist at the Hospital, said there were no external signs of injuries when he carried out a post-mortem examination on Mr Ferreira. He explained that one of the largest coronary arteries supplying the heart with blood was diseased and narrowed to about 10%.

He explained that he explored the possibilities of a diabetic-related death, either due to low or high levels of glucose, but that there was no evidence of that. With the help of Dr Peter Bates, a specialist endocrinologist, he also explored the possibility of an insulin overdose but said there was no evidence that Mr Ferreira's diabetes was out of control. 

Dr Lyons said: "Taking all the various different pieces of evidence in consideration, on the balance of probabilities, Mr Ferreira's death was likely related to coronary atherosclerosis, not diabetes."

Mr Ferreira's wife explained that he hadn't eaten before leaving home and worried if that had caused his death. Mr Lyons explained that while the fasting might have caused extra stress on Mr Ferreira's body, it didn't cause his death. 

Pictured: Dr Bruce Lyons said Mr Ferreira's diabetes didn't cause his death.

PC Cleave read a statement from Mr Ferreira's supervisor at the laundry company, where Mr Ferreira had been working for the past seven to eight years. The man said he had known him since the time Mr Ferreira had worked at the Bellozanne scrapyard. 

The supervisor described Mr Ferreira as a "very popular member of staff, hardworking and kind." "He was always smiling and would do anything to help," he added. "He never caused any problems or issue."

The man said Mr Ferreira was very careful with watching his sugar levels and that he managed his diabetes very well. In fact, the supervisor said there was no record of him ever being sick. 

He added that hearing of Mr Ferreira's death was "a very sad news." "He was a very friendly, happy and popular member of staff who is missed by everyone working at the laundry."

Concluding the inquest, Mr Barrett said that Mr Ferreira had died of severe coronary atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaques builds up inside arteries causing them to harden and narrow.