Devoted husband dies as he gives dying wife kiss of life

A devoted husband suffered a fatal heart attack as he fought to save the life of his dying wife. When Stewart Whitfield found wife Olga collapsed in the kitchen of their home in Tracey Avenue, West Boldon, he called 999, an inquest heard.

The 56-year-old tried desperately to resuscitate her, while being talked through life-saving procedures by an ambulance service controller.

But after a few minutes Mr Whitfield, a pipe fitter, stopped responding to the instructions. Seconds later paramedics broke into the house to find him slumped over his wife on the kitchen floor. Both were later pronounced dead.



Home Office pathologist Dr Peter Cooper said Mrs Whitfield, 61, had collapsed and died from an acute kidney infection.

Her husband, who had an enlarged heart and high blood pressure, succumbed to a heart attack as he fought to revive her. After a joint inquest, the couple's family described the married couple as "perfect together."

Mrs Whitfield's brother Ivan Hay, of West Boldon, said: "They were absolutely devoted to each other. They loved each other so much. In the end her death caused his death."