Carers thought collapsed woman was 'pretending'

Carers did not give first aid to a 29-year-old care home resident because they thought she was "attention seeking", an inquest heard.

Holly Goodchild collapsed and died at Cygnet House near Great Yarmouth, which is a residential home for people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs.

Norfolk Coroners' Court was told how carers had "tried to encourage her off the floor" and thought she was "pretending".

Daniel Soanes, a night worker, told the court that if he had known Ms Goodchild was having a seizure, he would have "absolutely" called 999 sooner.

Ms Goodchild's medical cause of death was given as positional asphyxia, epilepsy and morbid obesity, and left ventricular hypertrophy.

In a statement given to police shortly after Ms Goodchild's death, Mr Soanes said he had never seen her "throw herself on the floor before", but that she was known to "act irrationally if she didn't get her own way".

When Ms Goodchild collapsed at the home in Belton on 29 March 2023, he was working at nearby Swanrise care home, which is also run by private company Crystal Care.

He said he was called to Cygnet House by senior carer Steve Soucient, who was on the phone to the ambulance service when he arrived.

Mr Soanes said he tried to encourage Ms Goodchild off the floor by offering a "cup of tea and a cigarette".

He claimed she was making a "grunting noise" and he could see she was breathing, so he cleaned the kitchen in an ading room.

Asked by Carl Rix, counsel for Ms Goodchild's family, whether this was appropriate, Mr Soanes replied: "It was a task that needed doing."

"Do you agree that you should have considered Holly had had a seizure":[]}