A SCHIZOPHRENIC patient who died while being restrained by staff at a York psychiatric unit may have suffered an epileptic fit, an inquest heard today.

Daniel Cooke, 26, of Back Lane, Easingwold, died on April 1 last year at the Westerdale Unit in Clifton Hospital.

Coroner Donald Coverdale told an inquest jury today that the university student had twice had to be restrained by staff after becoming violent and disturbed.

His arms were held by two male nurses and his legs by two female nurses, and he was held face down on his bed.

On the second occasion, at around 5am, staff noticed as they were holding him down on his bed that Daniel's breathing had stopped.

"Daniel had in the past displayed the habit of holding his breath," said Mr Coverdale.

"There came a point at which he was being held down when it was noticed that his breathing had ceased."

The psychiatric staff tried to resuscitate Daniel and an ambulance crew was called, but he was pronounced dead at about 6am.

A top pathologist told the inquest at York's Guildhall that there was no evidence staff had inappropriately restrained Daniel.

Home Office Forensic Pathologist Professor Michael Green said he had been unable to determine the cause of death.

But he said there was no evidence that staff had held him by the throat.

Daniel had had a history of epileptic-style attacks, Professor Green said.

"It is possible that Mr Cooke died as a consequence of an epileptic fit. It is a possibility he inhaled vomit while struggling with staff, who were trying to restrain him.

"But there are no injuries to suggest that any form of choke-hold or other neck restraint had been applied."

Forensic tests indicated the anti-psychotic drugs he had been given had been in normal doses only, Prof Green said.

The inquest continues.

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