Son choked to death on chip after family meal

Michael Fellows, aged 34, was found dead by his mother Julie at the bottom of the stairs at their home on Walsall's Yew Tree Estate.

His death was described as 'tragic' and 'desperately sad' by Black Country coroner Zafar Siddique.

The inquest heard that the family had eaten roe and chips together on the evening of March 18 at Mr Fellows' grandmother's house.

After they returned to the family home in Painswick Close, Mrs Fellows watched television for a while before saying goodnight to her son and going to bed.

She said Mr Fellows was going to switch off all the lights downstairs before also going upstairs to bed.

But the next morning, she discovered him collapsed at the bottom of the stairs.

Speaking at her son's inquest at Sandwell Coroners Court, she said: "We came home at about 9pm or 9.10pm.

"I said I was going to put my pyjamas on and Michael said he would do the same, then I went out for a cigarette, watched some television and I said I was going to bed.

"I kissed him and said 'night, god bless' and then the next morning I found him at the bottom of the stairs."

"I just screamed and called for his dad. He just looked like he was asleep.

"I tried to wake him but he was cold. Then we called for the ambulance."

The pathologist report confirmed that Mr Fellows died from choking due to a foreign body obstruction of the windpipe.

A piece of potato measuring between 5.5mm and 2cm was found lodged in his windpipe and further chips were found in his stomach.

Giving a conclusion of accidental death, coroner Mr Siddique said: "I have heard that Michael was very much part of the family and his extended family.

"He was in good spirits and went to visit his nan, had a few drinks and a meal of fish and chips.

"His mother found him collapsed at the bottom of the stairs.

"How that has happened I cannot be sure. But on the balance of probabilities, this was an accidental death, even though the exact mechanism by which Michael choked is unclear.

"I can't imagine the pain that Mrs Fellows and her family have been through – finding your son in these circumstances. Only a young man and to lose your life in this way is tragic, desperately sad."

Paying tribute to her son, Mrs Fellows said: "He was a true gentleman, he always liked to keep himself spruced up."