TWO elderly women died of hypothermia in their own living rooms earlier this winter.

At an inquest into their deaths yesterday, a top doctor questioned how the pair could have come to such a tragic end in 21st century Brighton and Hove.

Margaret Ethel Littledale, 83, and Hanora Theresa Reed, 93, were both found dead in their living rooms at their homes in Chiltington Way, Saltdean, and Storrington Close, Hove, just 10 days apart.

They had contracted hypothermia due to plunging temperatures in January and were dead a number of days before the alarm was raised.

Both Ms Littledale and Ms Reed died in similar conditions with no immediate family and limited contact with the outside world.

Campaigners have said while people dying of the cold seems unthinkable, it is a major problem nationwide and also easily preventable.

The inquest at Brighton Coroner’s Court heard the pensioners both died alone when temperatures fell in January this year.

During the hearing, Dr Mark Howard, consultant autopsy pathologist, said: “One would not expect this to happen in a major 21st century city like Brighton and Hove but it does.

“People should check on neighbours and friends. Just popping in every other day could save lives.”

Ms Littledale, a former teacher, was found on January 11 after last being seen on January 4.

The inquest heard temperatures on January 8 fell to minus 1C.

Ten miles away, Ms Reed, a former caterer, was found on January 21, having last been seen on January 14. Temperatures hit zero on January 16.

Jessica Sumner, from Age UK Brighton and Hove, said: “We tend to think we are a really well developed country. Why on earth would someone die because they are cold?

“It is almost unthinkable and this is preventable. The trouble is most people do not realise there is help available or that they need help.”

Veronica Hamilton Deeley, senior coroner for Brighton and Hove, said: “The problem is the insidious nature of the cold.

“It is a silent killer which can kill people in their homes without them knowing about it – like carbon monoxide. It overwhelms their ability to respond then the body is in grave danger unless someone intervenes.”

FRIEND NOTED HOW COLD HER HOUSE WAS

MARGARET Ethel Littledale lived alone but had a comfortable life with no evidence of neglect, her inquest heard.

The coroner described the 83-year-old as someone who “had been a teacher and was a sensible intelligent woman” and had been “obviously looking after herself”.

While she had no immediate family, she had a few friends who she would see now and then.

She made journeys into Brighton on the community bus and was visited at her home in Chiltington Way, Saltdean, by a friend named Kerry.

She would clean for her once a fortnight and also visited her for tea, wash her hair, clean her feet and open jars or tins she was struggling with.

Kerry often noted how cold the house was but Margaret never complained.

She last saw her on New Year’s Eve.

She had a modern central heating system in the large house as well numerous electric heaters and plenty of blankets and duvets.

But after being last seen on January 4, she died in her home of hypothermia when temperatures plunged below zero.

She was found on January 11.

Police officers found the heating was not on when they broke in.

The the electric heaters were all unplugged and Margaret was found dead in the living room.

The coroner recorded her death as misadventure and the cause of death as hypothermia.

She said: “She was living her life as she always did but then unexpectedly and insidiously events took a turn which led to her death.”

WOMAN, 93, DECLINED HELP

HANORA Theresa Reed was 93 years old and described as fiercely independent woman.

But she had been suffering from deteriorating health.

Described as frail, elderly and malnourished she was also registered blind.

She lived in an unkempt flat which was unkempt but she refused help.

Her inquest was told her standard response to help was to say “thanks but no thanks”.

She stonewalled any attempt at social service intervention by social services.

She had a distant niece named Margaret who kept in contact and her response to how she was feeling was: “Keeping on, keeping on.”

A home visitor would attended weekly and took her shopping, a man named Michael Rycroft from St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP).

He was the one who informed the police when he could not make contact with her.

It was said she had grown up outside Cork, Ireland, and did not even have running water as a child, something which may have contributed to her attitudes in later life.

Pathologist Dr Mark Howard said if she had accepted help from social services she may have survived, even if it was just Meals on Wheels.

Coroner Veronica Hamilton Deeley recorded a narrative verdict and said her cause of death was hypothermia.

She said this was from frailty of old age, poor oral intake and a low body mass index.

AGE AFFECTS OUR ABILITY TO DEAL WITH EXTREME COLD

HYPOTHERMIA will attack you until you lose consciousness. Then you are left defenceless to die.

That was the shocking description of what it is like to die from hypothermia given at the inquest by Doctor Mark Howard.

He said the women would not have known what was happening to them as the cold took hold.

He said many people underestimate how easy it is for your core temperature to drop, at which point your body will start to shut down.

Hypothermia is caused when a person’s body temperature drops below 35C, compared with its normal 37C.

It can quickly become life threatening and should immediately be treated as a medical emergency.

It is usually caused by being in a cold environment but can be triggered by a combination of factors.

Living in a poorly heated house is just one of them and those who are elderly or ill are particularly at risk. Each year approximately 1,600 people are diagnosed with hypothermia in hospital and more than 70 per cent of these cases were people over 60.

The signs of hypothermia vary depending on how low a person’s temperature has dropped but initial symptoms include shivering, tiredness, fast breathing and cold or pale skin.

As the temperature drops the shivering becomes more violent.

The shivering will eventually stop before you lose consciousness.

When discussing the case of Margaret Littledale, coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley said: “We know she was mobile but there is compelling evidence our bodies’ ability to deal with the extremes becomes worse as we get older. She may not have felt as cold as she was, especially if she had been cold for a long time.”

The inquest heard the women may not have had any idea what was happening to them. Ms Hamilton-Deeley said: “Imagine sitting down not knowing how cold you are, getting drowsy, completely unaware you are dying and then going to sleep and never waking up. It is insidious.”

Jessica Sumner, chief executive of Age UK Brighton and Hove, said the charity was spearheading a campaign for warm homes which sees them give the elderly access to room thermometers and energy efficiency programmes.

An older person dies every seven minutes in the UK from the cold weather.

She said: “I think some of the danger is around the more sedentary lifestyle.

“If someone cannot get out and stay mobile, a lot of older people just sit down watching television and they are not keeping their bodies moving. It is not only the mental impact of feeling isolated but also the motivation to get up and move around is diminished. It is not just about the loneliness but the lack of activity within their own home, which is exactly why we promote room thermometers.

“If you look at it you realise if you need to move around to get your core temperature up.”

At the inquest, Dr Howard said: “If you did find someone who was terribly cold, the temptation might be to get them in a warm bath but that could be the worst thing, you need to warm them gently.

“Anyone even with minor hypothermia needs medical attention and the first thing should be to call an ambulance, stay with them and try to warm with a blanket, duvet or by putting your arms around them.”

ALONE IN THEIR HOMES THEY DID NOT KNOW THEY WERE DYING

ISOLATION in the elderly is frighteningly common.

For these two women it was this solitude that claimed their lives as winter took hold.

Sitting alone in their homes they didn’t even know they were dying as their bodies slowly shut down through hypothermia.

A simple visit from a friend, relative or carer may have saved them.

When I walked into the small lobby of Brighton Coroner’s Court, it appeared the inquest had been cancelled.

There was nobody around: no witnesses, no family members, friends and even acquaintances.

Usually inquests are attended by numerous interested parties and those close to the deceased.

But not this time.

I waited for someone to walk in but no one did.

I even went and knocked on the office door to check if the inquest was still going ahead.

The coroner’s officer informed that it was just me.

Once the proceedings started it was the coroner Veronica Hamilton Deeley, the pathologist Mark Howard, and the coroner’s officer Mark Johnson.

These two women died alone.

Claimed by the cold, they had nobody to look out for them, speak for them or mourn them.