Doctor died 'choking on lobster'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7625255.stm

Version 0 of 1.

The wife of prominent Belfast barrister Michael Lavery QC died after choking on a lobster tail in a Galway restaurant, an inquest has heard.

Dr Anneliese Lavery, 68, and her husband were on holiday when the incident occurred in March.

Witnesses described to the inquest how the former GP began to choke shortly after beginning lunch.

Mrs Lavery was given water and several attempts were made to save her life by performing the Heimlich manoeuvre.

Restaurant manager Eileen Finn Graham, who manages the Weir Oyster Cottage at Kilcolgan and is also a trained nurse, went to Mrs Lavery's aid along with another doctor and nurse who happened to be in the restaurant.

Eventually, a lobster tail measuring 10cm was dislodged from the doctor's throat.

According to pathologist Dr Margaret Sheehan, Mrs Lavery died from acute asphyxia due to obstruction of the airways.

Thanks

Mrs Lavery's husband Michael and son Finbarr thanked all those at the inquest who had tried to help her.

Mrs Lavery worked as a GP on the Falls Road in Belfast for almost 40 years.

Her QC husband represented a number of the Bloody Sunday families at the Saville Inquiry.