Mother of seven bled to death after lung torn in blunder at Wolverhampton's New Cross

Gurbakhsh Kaur from Wolverhampton died after a doctor tried to drain fluid from her chest but in doing so cut her lung.

Her daughter, Mrs Bally Paul, aged 38, said: "We are devastated that we have lost our mum. The thing we can't comprehend is that she went in for serious heart surgery and survived four explorative operations at the age of 72 but she died after a routine procedure."

Son Sarb Sond, 41, of All Saints, added: "We don't want another family to go through what we have done.

"She was the heart and soul of the family. She was the rock and everyone knew her in the community. She was known for her singing and she loved my dad, Amar - he was her sweetheart."

The grandmother went into New Cross on June 28, 2012 for fluid on the lungs but was advised that having a heart valve fitted would extend her life. After discussions, she went for the operation but complications after surgery saw the 72 year old from All Saints Road, All Saints, have exploratory surgery a further three times.

Mrs Kaur, who was diabetic and had a history of breathing difficulties, was in hospital for three months.

On September 24, 2012, when a scan showed fluid on her chest, a procedure to drain the area went wrong when her lung was torn - leading to her losing around two litres of blood. She later died from blood loss.

Smethwick Coroner's Court heard how specialist Dr Kirkpatrick Santo, now at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, had carried out the procedure.

He was asked by Mr Phil Barnes, who represented the family at the hearing, if he had used too much force in placing the tube into the chest of Mrs Kaur.

Dr Santo said: "No I didn't use much force at all. I was gentle, you have to be gentle, if you have to use too much force than something is wrong. I have put in around 700 chest drains and I haven't had a patient die from it."

The doctor was asked if he was aware he hit the lung right away.

He said: "Yes, there was a lot of blood."

Dr John Billing, a specialist in cardiac surgery at New Cross, had carried out the aortic valve surgery and given the go-ahead for Dr Santo. Dr Billing was contacted by Dr Santo and advised him to carry out the chest drain procedure.

He told the court: "It wasn't a very difficult procedure. Had he been inexperienced then I would have advised another registrar to carry it out but he was very experienced."

Coroner Zafar Siddique reached a narrative conclusion into the death of Mrs Kaur.

He said: "I have considered all the evidence available to me.

"I conclude that Mrs Kaur died from rare recognised necessary surgery for severe aortic stenosis and insertion of an intercostal drain which tore the lung resulting in significant blood loss."