Officers 'rabbits in headlights' treating woman

Two special police constables admitted they were like "rabbits in the headlights" when they attempted to treat a homeless woman who had gone into cardiac arrest, an inquest has heard.

Marie Cattermole, 32, collapsed on Prince of Wales Road, Norwich, on 22 September 2022 and died three days later in hospital.

A police investigator told Norfolk Coroner's Court that special constables Daren Gallop and Stuart Florence had taken a "complete lack of appropriate action" in dealing with Ms Cattermole.

Area coroner Samantha Goward concluded her death was drug and alcohol related.

Derek Kevern, from Norfolk Police's professional standards team, said the officers had checked the woman's pulse but did not administer CPR.

He said the officers did not contact the control room or the ambulance service.

Mr Kevern insisted the issue of training "was not systemic" and there was a "failure or inability to follow their training".

Officers have been given a "reflective practice" process and additional training to ensure they can act if a similar situation arises.

He said: "(The) overwhelming majority of other police officers would have been able to act appropriately."

The inquest heard how Ms Cattermole was seen on CCTV footage to be "unsteady on her feet" before becoming slumped over minutes later.

This was the last time she was seen to move and was said to have remained "motionless".

Professor Jasmeet Soar, an independent expert, believed Ms Cattermole's heart stopped between 23:10 and 23:15 and she would have been in cardiac arrest at about 23:30.

Mr Soar said passersby "probably wouldn't have noticed" she had been suffering a cardiac arrest.

The inquest heard how two off-duty first responders gave her CPR before an ambulance arrived.

A toxicology report showed she had a mix of drugs in her system including diazepam, ketamine and cocaine - however, none of these were in excessive amounts.

Ms Cattermole's blood alcohol level was 253mg, three times over the drink drive limit of 80mg.

The inquest heard how she had previously been known to her GP to have alcohol and substance abuse issues and had been keen to get help.

She was said to have been in touch with an NHS alcohol advice service days before her death.

Ms Goward said: "She faced a number of difficulties that led to her using drugs and alcohol."

Mr Kevern said while police walked past on multiple occasions, the officers had not engaged with Ms Cattermole directly.

He said Special Constables Gallop and Florence left her in a position where she was "potentially experiencing asphyxia".

He said: "I'm satisfied that they had the right training.

"They both acknowledged it was 'rabbits in the headlights' and they were unable to follow it [first aid training]."

Ms Goward concluded the medical cause of death was hypoxic ischaemic brain injury, out of hospital cardiac arrest and sedative effects of drugs and alcohol.

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