Mexborough and Swinton Times, April 27, 1928

Thurnscoe Miner’s Death.
Sudden Attack of Pneumonia.
Symptoms Unrecognised

Mr W. H. Carlile held an inquest on Tuesday into the death of James McNamara (35) a miner, employed at Harworth Colliery, whose home is at 8, Dane Street, Thurnscoe and who died suddenly on Sunday.

Diana McNamara, the widow, said her husband was in lodgings at Harworth and came home to Thurnscoe’ on Saturday morning. He said he had come out of the pit at 3-30 with pains in the chest, which were “taking his breath.” He added that he had seen a doctor at Harworth, who had asked him to call again.

Her husband seemed better when he got home, and. he did not complain again until Sunday night, when he was attacked by similar pains.  He died before a doctor could be brought. He had had fairly good health previously. He said nothing about having heard himself in the pit.

Mary Ann Broadhurst, also of 8, Dane Street, South, Thurnscoe, gave corroborating evidence.

Doctor Malcolm said was called Sunday night and did not McNamara until after death. He made a post-mortem examination with Doctor Boyle. Part of the left lung was in the first day of pneumonia, and there were other evidence seconded to pneumonic condition. There were no signs of external or internal injuries. The cause of death was syncope following pneumonia.

Mr W.M. Starkey (representing the Y.M.A.): If this man had attention by the doctor at Harworth when he first went to him in the morning, would it have altered the case at all?

Doctor Malcolm: Very probably it would, if he had been examined and pneumonia had been found, and the man had been taken straight to bed. The man might have had a better chance.

Mr Starkey: Would you think there had been some laxity on the doctors part, if a man leaving the pit three and went to him and he simply told the man to come back on Monday morning, instead of examining the man?

It depends on what passed between them, and the doctor is not here.

The deputy coroner: Do you know that the man did go to the doctor?

Mr Starkey, Mr McNamara said the doctor was in his dressing gown at 6 o’clock and would not attend him.

The coroner: You don’t know what Doctor it was?

Mr Starkey: No.

Doctor Malcolm said that Mr McNamara was home at 9 am and might have consulted his panel Doctor.

Mr Starkey: No extra strain at work would make it worse?

Doctor Malcolm: No; no extra strain so far as I can say would set up pneumonia.

The jury returned a verdict of “Death from natural causes,” and the Coroner, having expressed sympathy with the widow, said he did not think they could find any fault because although they did not know what passed between McNamara and the doctor, even when the man got home he felt so much better that he did not call in any other doctor, and they must be satisfied that all was done that could be done.