Mike Ore, 47, who had spina bifida, collapsed after food blocked his oesophagus while he sat in his wheelchair at Cheltenham restaurant, inquest hears

Customers in a McDonald’s in Cheltenham stepped over a disabled man who was choking to death to get to the counter, an inquest has heard.

Mike Ore, who had spina bifida, collapsed after a ball of food blocked his oesophagus while he sat in his wheelchair in the fast food restaurant.

CCTV footage show that nobody went to the 47-year-old’s aid for three minutes during the incident in July, Gloucestershire coroners court was told on Wednesday.

Johnny Langden told the court that he and two women eventually realised Ore was choking and rushed to help him. After he collapsed to the floor and turned purple, customers stepped over him in order to get served, Langden said.

He said: “I was standing in a queue at McDonald’s with my family when I saw this man in a wheelchair clearly in distress. I and two ladies went to his assistance and tried to remove the food from his mouth but he had turned purple in colour and I realised that he was dying.

“I could not believe it but some customers stepped over his body to get to the counter.”

The court heard that Ore had been drinking that day and the effects of the high level of alcohol in his blood “could have inhibited the swallowing reflux”. Coroner David Dooley said: “The deceased has spina bifida, gout and alcohol problems. He was also a heavy smoker.

“A ball of food had lodged in his oesophagus and caused a blockage. A toxicology report revealed a high level of alcohol in his blood and urine and his lungs were congested.

“One of the effects of excessive alcohol can be a loss of co-ordination and an impairment of the swallowing reflex. Choking can result. Unfortunately nobody appeared to notice his condition until it was too late.”

On Facebook, Ore’s friend, Jack Uddin wrote that despite his friend’s problems, he was a good man. He said: “I was very fortunate to know Mike for over 20 years. He had his problems (like we all do) and perhaps he wasn’t dealing with what ever issues he may have had in the best way but that doesn’t mean his death was any less of a loss to both his family and his friends.

“In all the years I knew him I found him to be a good and loyal friend. May the eternal sleep bring you forever peace my Mike. You will be missed.”

Julie Webb added that Ore used to help out at a playgroup when her son attended 22 years ago: “Very sad to hear this of Mike. [He was] such a happy chap, the children loved him. Such a very sad way to go.”



The coroner concluded that Ore’s death was accidental.