48 year-old father dies 5 weeks after gastric bypass surgery

Manchester, UK

An obese father of two died after suffering complications from surgery to help reduce his weight, a coroner has ruled.

Gary Cooper, 48, of Ashton-under-Lyme, Manchester, died five weeks after having gastric bypass surgery last October.

The "gentle giant", who was believed to have weighed around 26 stone, had the NHS-funded operation at the private Alexandra Hospital, Cheadle, on October 14 last year.

Mr Cooper was released from hospital four days later despite being breathless and in agony, the inquest at Stockport Magistrates' Court heard.

The following day, he was rushed to Tameside General Hospital after his condition deteriorated and, the next day, he had an emergency operation to repair two leaks in his stomach.

Nine days later, he had a second operation to repair a third leak and, after a brief spell in intensive care, appeared to be recovering well.

However, on November 22, the day before he was due to be released and the date of his wife Sonia's birthday, he collapsed and died.

Coroner John Pollard said he had doubts about the way the risks of surgery were explained to Mr Cooper by his surgeon, Bart Decadt.

He said: "I am satisfied that these risks were discussed, but I am left with a remaining doubt as to whether they were perhaps addressed by Mr Decadt in a rather light-hearted way and the real risk may not have had as firm an impression in the mind of Gary Cooper as ought to have been the case to enable him to make a fully considered and informed decision."

Mr Pollard said he intended to ask the Alexandra Hospital to review its patient discharge policy and to report back to him.

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