99-year-old 'wanted to reach 100' but died after scalding hot tea spilled

A 99-year-old woman tragically died after being scalded by a cup of tea she was drinking, an inquest has heard. Margaret Eluned Roberts, who was registered blind and lived in a nursing home in Anglesey, had hoped to reach her 100th birthday.

The inquest, held Tuesday, heard that the pensioner suffered burns when the hot black tea spilled onto her. The burn subsequently led to Mrs Roberts developing a chest infection.

However, the senior coroner ruled that her death, which occurred about five weeks after the burn, was accidental. This inquest came at the same time as another, where it emerged that a woman had discovered her missing husband dead behind the family shed.

Kate Robertson, the senior coroner for north west Wales, concluded that Mrs Roberts died from pneumonia and cellulitis secondary to a burn. Old age, asthma and ischaemic heart disease were also listed as contributory factors.

Sarah Thomas, a healthcare assistant at Glan Rhos nursing home in Brynsiencyn, testified that Mrs Roberts had asked for a cup of black tea on September 22 last year. She gave it to her in a plastic, two-handled beaker.

Ms Thomas stated that she knew Mrs Roberts was registered blind but described her as "very independent" and said she "wanted to drink the cup of tea herself". After watching Mrs Roberts sip the tea through a straw in the spout, Ms Thomas moved away, WalesOnline reports.

The inquest heard that Mrs Roberts then spilled the tea on herself around 7pm. Despite this, Ms Thomas said she didn't hear Mrs Roberts "scream".

Jo Reavey, a nurse and witness at the inquest, said in a statement that she heard Mrs Roberts, known as Eluned, "shouting in an urgent tone".

She described finding her "distraught with her arms raised. The beaker was upside down and there was black tea on her trousers". The wound began to blister, and staff applied cold towels to it, she explained.

In her statement, Linda Pritchard, Mrs Roberts' daughter, said she received a phone call about the incident. She questioned "Why did they give a blind lady hot black tea?"

An ambulance was summoned at 7.51pm and arrived at Glan Rhos nursing home approximately two hours later, around 10pm.

Mrs Roberts was transported to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, where the wound was initially classified as 8 per cent of her body weight but after reddening reduced it was reclassified as 4 per cent. This is below the 10 per cent threshold required for admission to a burns unit.

At Ysbyty Gwynedd, the blisters were lanced, the wound dressed, and she was discharged. Mrs Roberts was returned to Glan Rhos but developed respiratory issues.

On October 7, her daughter Mrs Pritchard requested her readmission to Ysbyty Gwynedd.

Dr Abdul Azu, a consultant physician, informed the inquest that her condition was not improving.

Mrs Roberts passed away in hospital on October 28, roughly five weeks after the scalding incident.

When questioned by Mrs Pritchard, Dr Azu confirmed her mother developed a chest infection.

He added: "Without a doubt the burn has contributed to her (Mrs Roberts) catching the chest infection because she was not moving about.

"She was lying in bed. The scalding was a factor in her declining health," he concluded.

The coroner, Mrs Robertson, stated that Mrs Roberts passed away on October 28 "as a result of the medical conditions which were precipitated by the burn injury sustained on her leg."

She noted that the spillage was "unintended and accidental" and ruled the cause of death of Mrs Roberts, a former environmental protection poultry meat inspector, as an accident.

Mrs Robertson told Mrs Pritchard: "Mam wanted to reach 100 years old. It would have been such a significant milestone for her and for you."

She extended her heartfelt condolences, adding: "I hope there are fond memories you can rely upon when the time comes."