Mayo coroner warns elderly on dangers of blood thinners

A coroner warned today of the risk of internal bleeding in elderly people on blood thinners in the event of them falling.

At an inquest in Ballina, Dr. Eleanor Fitzgerald, Coroner for Mayo, spoke of the health risks for elderly patients posed by anticoagulants.

While blood thinners can prevent strokes or heart attacks they do pose a greater threat for those on blood thinners, Dr. Fitzgerald commented at an inquest into the death in April 2023 of 82-year-old Thomas McCann from St. Pappins Green, Glasnevin, Dublin.

Mr. McCann, a former employee of Dublin Airport, was staying with his wife, Teresa, in Belderrig, North Mayo, when he collapsed.

Teresa McCann, in a statement read to today’s hearing, said she was in the kitchen of the house where they were staying when she “heard a thud” in another room and rushed to find her husband on the floor.

“I could not believe what had happened,” Mrs. McCann said later in a statement to gardai.

Mrs. McCann immediately alerted the emergency services.

Her husband was rushed to Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar where he died the following day.

Pathologist Dr. Fadel Bennani, who carried out a post mortem examination, said the cause of death was sub-arachnoid and intraparenchymal brain haemorrhage due to a fall which was unwitnessed.

Before returning a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Fitzgerald noted evidence that Mr. McCann, although he had been in relatively good health, had complained of feeling unwell and dizzy and had been on blood thinners.

“Elderly people should be aware of the risks posed by blood thinners," the coroner continued.

“This issue (of fatal brain bleeds) is now arising more frequently."