Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Couple both die of heart attacks side by side

A devoted couple are thought to have died of heart attacks within minutes of each other. Stewart Whitfield, 56, had just dialled 999 after his wife Olga, 61, had suffered heart failure at their West Boldon home when he too suffered a cardiac arrest.

Police and paramedics rushed to the couple's home in Tracey Avenue, but when they got there had to smash the front door of their semi-detached home.

A neighbour, Doris Jenkins, said: "I heard sirens outside just after 10pm on Sunday, and looked out to see what was going on. "There were two ambulances and a police car in the street. Soon after, I saw them bringing two bodies out of a house.

"There is a pane of glass in the front door which has been smashed, which wasn't like that the day before. I would imagine the police and paramedics had to smash it to get into the house. People are saying that Olga suffered a heart attack and while waiting for an ambulance, Stu had one too."

The 82-year-old added: "They were a lovely couple and were both in good health for their age."

A Northumbria Police spokesman confirmed no third party was involved and that the couple both died from "medical reasons".

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