Woman likely suffered ‘cardiac arrest’ during cold water therapy | UK News

A woman who died after plunging into a cold river during water therapy likely suffered a ‘sudden cardiac arrest’, an inquest has heard.

Kellie Jean Poole, 36, died on April 25, 2022, attended a cold water immersion session with two friends at the River Goyt near the Peak District.

Cold water therapy, which sees people dip into chilly baths, lakes and rivers, is thought to ease mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.

But as she laughed and joked with friends after entering the water, Ms Poole began suffering from headaches and fell forward.

Ms Poole, from Droylsden, Tameside, died after entering the river which had a recorded temperature of 10.7°C, a doctor told a coroner today.

Giving evidence, consultant cardiologist Dr Damian Kelly, said the cold water may have caused arrhythmia – an irregular heartbeat – which ‘incapacitated’ her.

Senior Coroner, Peter Nieto, asked Dr Kelly if the freezing water may have triggered a cardiac arrest.

‘Yes, I think that is what has happened. It is difficult not to see it as relevant,’ he said.

After being pulled out of the river, paramedics pronounced Ms Poole dead.

A post-mortem examination, carried out by consultant pathologist Dr Abed Zaitoun, recorded her death as ‘sudden cardiac arrest’ caused by left ventricular hypertrophy – the thickening of the wall of the heart’s main pumping chamber.

Dr Zaitoun said Ms Poole was technically obese, per her body mass index (BMI), with her heavier-than-expected heart likely contributing to her death.

‘In my opinion, it is all related to the weight. The larger the weight of the body, the harder the heart has to work for that body,’ he said.

‘That in time increases the weight of the heart. [Cold water] might have had an effect on the cardiac function and might link to sudden death.’

Whether cold water can cause a sudden cardiac arrest can depend on a few factors, Dr Zaitoun added, such as how familiar a person is with being in frigid water.

Ms Poole’s friend, Victoria Fielding, booked the session with Breatheolution.

It was a ‘mild’ day when the two friends attended the session, Ms Fielding said, but the group was ‘shivering’ prior to taking a dip as they were dressed in bathing suits.

Organiser Kevin O’Neill asked Ms Poole and Ms Fielding about their medical history and to complete around 15 minutes of breathing exercises beforehand.

‘I booked it, I thought, “did we fill in a waiver form?”, I knew that we hadn’t,’ Ms Fielding told the inquest.

‘He [Mr O’Neill] went up to each of us individually and asked if we had any medical conditions.’

Ms Poole, she added, was initially ‘enjoying’ the session and ‘laughing and giggling’ but later complained she was suffering from a headache.

Advised by Mr O’Neill to splash water on Ms Poole’s face, the two began scooping up water over the back of her head.

Ms Fielding added in her statement that Ms Poole then fell into the river, with Mr O’Neill then beginning CPR.

The inquest continues.

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