A prisoner died after being found unresponsive in his Strangeways cell by an inmate, an inquest hears.
Paul Johnstone, 37, was lying motionless on the top bunkbed when the alarm was raised. His cellmate Derek Hulme called for help after he didn't respond when nudged.
Manchester Coroners' Court heard yesterday (Wednesday) how Mr Johnstone, who had a long history of drug misuse, was found unconscious at 1.40pm on January 2, 2019. Giving evidence, prison officer Paul Thompson described how he answered the alarm and was asked by Mr Hulme: "Can you check on him?"
He said he felt for a pulse and thought he could possibly feel one but was not sure, adding: "I checked his neck for a pulse and thought I felt one but it might have been adrenaline."
Mr Thompson said he ran downstairs and alerted other members of staff to assist him. He explained he had been a Strangeways prison officer for about 15 months on the drugs and detox wing and had received 10 weeks training on emergency response codes. The court heard how a 'code blue' meant there is an urgent medical emergency.
Mr Thompson described how he and other officers struggled to assist Paul due to his size and position on the bunk and they called for a nurse who responded and herself issued a 'code blue' meaning an ambulance and emergency crew were called. He was pronounced dead at 2.46pm.
When asked by coroner Zak Golombek if he himself should have issued a 'code blue', he said: "Yes". When asked why he hadn't, he said: "Inexperience. This was my first experience of this and I was in panic."
Giving evidence, nurse Danielle Spirou, who attempted CPR on Mr Johnstone, said she had never issued a 'code blue' before and "would have expected an officer" to do so.
A post-mortem examination of Manchester-born Mr Johnstone, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, revealed he had cocaine and cannabis in his system along with prescription drugs.
The inquest continues and is expected to last three days.
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