Dr Ashley Cooper died at Kent and Canterbury Hospital after a cardiac arrest

by Gerry Warren

Doctors are still struggling to understand a rare heart condition that led to the death of a leading specialist at Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

Father-of-two Dr Ashley Cooper, who was just 38 and a consultant dermatologist, suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Bridge.

Dr Cooper (pictured right) died six days later at the hospital where he worked having never regained consciousness.

However, a pathologist told an inquest a post mortem and detailed study of his heart by a specialist did not reveal any abnormalities.

Dr Salim Anjarwalla said the most likely cause of death was a functional disturbance in the heart resulting in what is known as Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.

He said: "The exact reason why it happens is still unclear but something went wrong and there was most likely a disturbance in electrical conductivity in the heart.

"That is the presumption because it is impossible to ascertain and can only be detected in life.

"However, tragically, it is not uncommon and there are about 500 cases a year, predominantly in young males."

Dr Anjarwalla said there could be a genetic link and advised Dr Cooper's family members to be promptly screened.

Coroner Rebecca Cobb heard Dr Cooper's wife Clare, 40, had been unable to wake her husband early in the morning of December 16 at their home in Beech Hill.

She tried to revive him while waiting for paramedics to arrive and he was then taken to Kent and Canterbury Hospital, where he was on a life support machine in inensive care for six days.

Recording that his death was from natural causes, Miss Cobb said: "It is always slightly unsatisfactory not to be able to say exactly what caused a death. However, a percentage of young people do suffer these unexpected cardiac arrests which cannot be explained.

"Sadly, all that can be done is to hopefully prevent it happening to other family members."

Dr Ashley Cooper worked at Kent and Canterbury Hospital

Speaking after the inquest, Dr Cooper's wife Clare, who is a furniture designer and cabinet-making, said: "We were aware of what the outcome would be.

"We have also been given advice and information about the screening, which is a formality in these cases."

She said more than £1,000 raised at Dr Cooper's funeral and subsequently would be donated to the dermatology department.