A MAN who died after collapsing outside a Rhyl shopping centre suffered head injuries linked to an assault earlier in the year, an inquest concluded.
Raymond Jon Sheldon, from Birmingham, died aged 40 on September 10, 2021 after collapsing outside the White Rose Centre in Rhyl the day before.
He was transferred to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan, where he was pronounced dead.
At a full inquest in Ruthin yesterday (April 25), John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, said a number of factors had played a part in Mr Sheldon’s death.
Mr Gittins recorded a cause of death of intracranial haemorrhage due to previous trauma, under combined cocaine and morphine toxicity.
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Born in March 1981 in Birmingham, Mr Sheldon was brought up by his grandparents with his sister Kelly.
His sister said he “fell in with the wrong crowd” after his grandmother died, and after being sent to prison, became addicted to heroin and was known to West Midlands Police.
On February 1 2021, the father-of-three was the victim of an assault and was taken by ambulance to Russell Halls Hospital in Dudley, but left prior to receiving treatment for what was believed to be a head injury and before police officers could speak to him.
DI Sara Beech of West Midlands Police told the inquest that an assault was reported, but without any further details, due to Mr Sheldon leaving, there was no further investigation.
The next day (Feb 2), he went back to the hospital, where he suffered recurring vomiting, and a CT head scan found extensive evidence of brain injuries, including small haemorrhages to the frontal lobe, a small amount of bleeding, and skull fractures.
On February 3, he complained about a severe headache, but was non-compliant with medication and not cooperative with nursing staff.
Mr Sheldon had another scan on February 4, which did not show any significant change to the initial scan, and he was more alert and compliant with an occupational therapist.
He was due to report to a therapist soon after, but did not attend.
Mr Sheldon moved to the Rhyl area shortly thereafter, as the family had holidayed in Rhyl when he and his sister were younger, often staying at the Lyons and Robin Hood camp sites.
On September 9 2021, Mr Sheldon was found collapsed outside the entrance to the White Rose Centre in Rhyl by Iceland employee Paul Baker.
Mr Baker alerted security guard Adam Redford, who with a colleague saw crowds starting to form.
Mr Radford immediately recognised him, having seen him outside the centre previously, and that Mr Sheldon was “always very polite and friendly”.
According to Mr Redford, he was lying on his side, making gargling noises and appeared unresponsive, but was moving.
He noticed a bag next to him contained drug paraphernalia, including syringes, and a qualified nurse soon arrived who noticed his breathing weakening.
Ambulance services advised the use of a defibrillator, and CPR was started before he was placed on a stretcher and taken in an ambulance to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
Upon arrival at hospital, he tested positive for Hepatitis C and drug use, and was of no fixed address.
He also had a history of substance abuse, depression, asthma and other conditions.
Mr Sheldon was pronounced deceased at approximately 11.10am on September 10 2021.
His sister Kelly Sheldon said during her last conversation with him, on the morning of his death, he had told her he had “stopped heroin because he wanted to get better”.
Mrs Sheldon said he “lost grandad in August 2021 and could not cope with that, had many happy holidays in Rhyl with nan and grandad and therefore he came to Rhyl”, adding that he was a “very much loved brother, dad, son and uncle.”
A post-mortem examination found brain bleeding related to previous trauma to the head, and an intercranial haemorrhage combined with cocaine and morphine toxicity, with contributing liver cirrhosis.
Dr Huyam Abdelsalam, a consultant pathologist at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, who undertook Mr Sheldon’s post-mortem, found traces of multiple drugs in his body, including ethanol, cocaine (non-toxic level), and morphine.
His morphine level was more than twice the legal level.
These drugs, as well as tranquilisers and opioids that Mr Sheldon was known to take, had had an effect on the brain.
Mr Gittins said there was a “probable link” between the original assault and injuries sustained and what happened to Mr Sheldon in Rhyl, and delivered a narrative conclusion.
He said: “On February 1 2021, the deceased was treated in hospital in Birmingham for injuries he alleged were the result of assault.
“This included a bleed on the brain which although not immediately fatal, probably made him more prone to future bleeding.
“His death was the result of a further bleed - this was contributed to by existing liver cirrhosis and continued drug use.”
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