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More on KentOnline
The sudden and unexpected death of a Maidstone man was due to natural causes, an inquest has found.
Mark Johnson had been out for lunch at Wetherspoons in the town centre with his partner and their child.
But when they returned to their home in Boxley Road, he very quickly became ill and collapsed.
His partner attempted CPR while waiting for medics to arrive, but sadly Mr Johnson died at the scene. He was only 37.
The coroner Joanne Andrews heard evidence from the pathologist who carried out a post mortem that the cause of death was sudden adult cardiac arrest.
But she heard this was a "diagnosis of exclusion" because there was no medical indication as to exactly what had brought on the heart attack.
However, Mr Johnson had suffered a mild heart attack before in 2019 and it was possible that he may have had a cardiac arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat.
What is known is that Mr Johnson suffered from hereditary spherocytosis, a condition that results in misshaped red blood cells, which can be mistaken by the body's spleen for old or damaged cells which are then broken down.
Several of Mr Johnson's close family have the condition and have had to have their spleens removed as a consequence.
His mother June Johnson said: "He was a lovely young man, So kind-hearted. He would take the shirt off his back to give to somebody else.
"He lived for his partner and his son and was planning on getting married next year.
"He was always a joker and would often play practical tricks on me."
Mr Johnson's partner, who asked not to be named, said: "We were together 10 years. We had both been through some difficult times, but he was the making of me.
"He was always making us laugh. The times before his death were the happiest for both of us."
Mr Johnson was born in Germany where his father was serving in the forces. He died on September 4.
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