Killed by a mozzie bite
Feb 10 2006
AN INFECTION from a mosquito bite during a foreign holiday killed a man by rotting his internal organs, an inquest heard.
Matthew Kernot, 36, was found dead in bed at his flat in Ravenstone Street, Balham, by paramedics after a trip to India.
An inquest on Tuesday was told Mr Kernot had suffered from an infection that caused his liver to rot and his spleen to semi-liquefy.
He had also suffered heart and kidney failure and fluid had filled his lungs.
The financial analyst, originally from Newport on the Isle of Wight, had started to feel unwell while on holiday in southern India after suffering mosquito bites that had started to “ooze”.
Nine days later he was dead.
He had returned to London on November 18, and been off work complaining of a variety of symptoms including headaches, vomiting, fever and a painful abdomen.
He had gone to his local doctor’s surgery four times in a week.
But a number of tests, including liver function procedures, did not reveal his deteriorating condition.
Westminster Coroner’s Court heard that despite the trips to the doctor complaining of illness, numerous tests failed to show he had the rare life-threatening infection, which was not malaria.
His partner, Christina Devaney said he had appeared “perkier” after a final appointment with GP Dr Ai Lechi two days before his death.
She went away for the Saturday after Mr Kernot said he felt better, but kept in touch with him via text and mobile phone.
She returned to find paramedics in their flat.
Pathologist Dr Peter Wilkins said a postmortem revealed the cause of death was major organ failure caused by septicaemia.
He said insect bites “would have been the opportunity for organisms to get into the body at that time”.
Coroner Dr Paul Knapman said: “The story is not very usual and the outcome is an absolute tragedy.”
Dr Knapman recorded a verdict of death from natural causes.
