Overview
- At a Dec. 2 pre-inquest hearing, the North East Ambulance Service said Olive Martin showed signs of life in the mortuary, and Durham Constabulary reported evidence of brain function.
- Paramedics had pronounced the 54-year-old dead on Oct. 13, 2023 after a reported seizure at home and transported her to Darlington Hospital Mortuary instead of A&E.
- Martin later died from brain damage, with the coroner noting uncertainty about how long she had been deprived of oxygen.
- The family’s lawyer alleged an approximately two-hour period with no treatment and asked the court to consider calling emergency or intensive care experts.
- The inquest was adjourned to Jan. 30, 2026, while NEAS continues its review, the CQC monitors the trust, and police have closed their investigation with no charges.