Hubby saw his wife die (From Stourbridge News)

Hubby saw his wife die

12:12pm Monday 5th February 2007 in Local

AN INQUEST heard how a fit and healthy women died in her husband arms after attending her routine exercises classes.

Kim Southhall, aged 44, a legal secretary from Quarry Bank,Stourbridge returned home from her usual tap dancing and exercise class on Friday October 20 and settled down to watch a film on the settee with her husband before she died.

Dudley Coroners' Court heard how husband Lee Southall glanced over at his wife to see that her eyes were rolling back and she had turned a funny colour and it appeared she was having a fit.

Mr Southall immediately phoned a ambulance and she was taken to Russell's Hall Hospital were she was pronounced dead.

Russell Hall Pathologist Doctor Wasfi told the court that Mrs Southall was fit and healthy, was a non-smoker, tee-total had no health concerns.

She said: "There was no suggestion of any previous illness."

After an examination Doctor Wasfi discovered that Kim Southall had got fluid on her left lung due to bad circulation, suffered from an abnormal valve in her heart which caused the blood not to be pumped round properly.

She added: "Kim did a lot of physical exercise and it is possible that she lead an active life without any symptoms of the heart condition."

Sitting on Wednesday January 31, Black Country coroner Robin Balmain said: "This was an unexpected death and it is very sad, Mrs Southall lead an active and energetic life this must be very difficult for you."

He recorded a verdict Mrs Southall had died from natural causes.