Widow praised for “fortitude” in face of husband’s drinking problem

Wednesday 28 February 2018

The wife of a man who drank up to six bottles of wine per day - and later died after hitting his head while drunk - has been praised for her “courage” and “fortitude” in supporting him with his drinking problem over many years.

The comments came from Advocate Mark Harris, Coroner, during an inquest into the death of Yorkshire-born John Lee Abel (45), who was described as a “loved husband and son.”

Mr Abel died last July following a serious head injury sustained when he collapsed on his bathroom floor on a Saturday evening. He was taken to A&E and underwent a brain scan, but Southampton-based neurology experts deemed his injuries “unsurvivable.” He passed away the following day in Jersey General Hospital’s intensive care unit. 

The Coroner heard how his death came after years of heavy drinking, during which time he had been offered support by the Drugs and Alcohol Service, whose help he declined, as well as his loving wife of 13 years, Dionne.

The pair met in his native Rotherham aged just 16. A chance meeting in another city brought them together in their 20s, and they later married in 2004. Mrs Abel explained in a statement how Mr Abel’s drinking problems were sparked by their move to Jersey in late 2008.

Prior to the move, Mr Abel had worked as a metal technician, but did not find similar employment in Jersey. For a brief period, he worked in retail, but found the role unfulfilling. He later carried out some work for the fisheries, but this did not lead to a permanent role.

Pictured: The inquest was held at Morier House, St. Helier.

As he “didn’t have the confidence in himself” to go to the job centre and seek work, Mr Abel remained unemployed from 2009 until his death, turning instead to drinking during the daytime.

In a series of statements read by PC Glenn Cleave, the Coroner was told how Mr Abel’s alcoholism gradually escalated from an occasional pint of lager, to drinking during the daytime at a pub in St. Aubin before heading home, where he would drink bottles of wine.

This worsened over a number of years – at his worst, Mr Abel drank up to six bottles of wine a day, and at one point was also reported to be drinking a litre of vodka. The habit caused him liver problems, and his wife recalled how it yellowed his eyes.

Mrs Abel noted how Mr Abel was “always drunk.” She recalled that he would often carry bruises from suspected falls, and would often use walls to support himself when moving around. She said that he “hardly ate at all and just drank” – only occasionally opting for soups. “I didn’t know what to do,” she commented.

She eventually sought help from a GP after noticing a cut on his forehead – apparently caused by knocking into his mother’s kitchen cupboard – and subsequently took her husband to A&E.

Pictured: Mr Abel was taken to A&E by his wife, who was concerned for his health due to his drinking problem.

His case was referred to the Drugs and Alcohol Service – one of many occasions over the years – but Mr Abel declined treatment. He would maintain that he only drank “to get to sleep” and on one occasion refused help because he said he didn’t believe in “talking-type treatment.” 

In the days leading to his death, Mr Abel complained of headaches after collapsing between his lounge and kitchen door. On Saturday 29 July, Mrs Abel said that he had spent the day indoors drinking and sleeping on the settee, before heading upstairs at around 21:00 that evening. Mrs Abel then heard a “loud thump” and went to investigate.  

There, she found her husband on the bathroom floor. He was unable to stand up or move himself, making it difficult for his wife to open the door. Paramedics eventually gained access to the scene, noting that Mr Abel had no recollection of falling or how long he had been on the floor, and took him to A&E.

Mrs Abel recalled how her husband was “repeating himself” but said that she couldn’t tell whether this was due to his head injury or intoxication. Hours later, his condition deteriorated, and he was placed on life support. Mr Abel subsequently passed away in the early evening of the following day with his mother, who had flown over to be with him, at his beside. In a statement, she commented: “I miss him dearly.”

In his closing remarks, Advocate Harris told Mrs Abel that he was “impressed by your courage and fortitude over a number of years… It can’t have been an easy time.”

He ended the hearing by expressing “how very sorry I am for your loss.”