Woman Who Was Choking to Death on Indian Restaurant's 'Disgusting' Lamb Chop 'Was Sent Upstairs to the Toilets - Because Waiter Said She Was Upsetting OTHER Diners' _ Mail Online

7/27/2019 Woman Who Was Choking to Death on Indian Restaurant's 'Disgusting' Lamb Chop 'Was Sent Upstairs to the Toile

1/13

show ad

Woman who choked to death on lamb chop inIndian restaurant 'was sent upstairs to the

toilets - because waiter said she was upsetting

other diners'

Helen Peploe suffered fatal heart attack and died 48 hours after incident

Her partner tr ied to save her li fe by attempting Heimlich manoeuvre

In run-up to incident Neil Whitcher said food at restaurant was 'to die for'He told inquest s taff at restaurant told him to escort her to the lavatory

Restaurant manager said her partner had not at firs t said what was wrong

He said they were taken to bathroom after Mr Whitcher asked to be

He also said a waiter phoned an ambulance immediately

By Jaya Narain

PUBLISHED: 08:37 GMT, 4 October 2013 | UPDATED: 23:37 GMT, 4 October 2013

19 shares

18

Viewcomments

A woman choking to death on a piece of lamb chop was asked to move because she was upsetting othercustomers in a curry house, an inquest was told.

Helen Peploe, 56, began coughing violently when part of her mixed kebab became lodged in her throat.

As her partner, Neil Whitcher, desperately tried to dislodge the food using the Heimlich manoeuvre, heclaims staff told him to take her to the toilet.


2/13

Tragic: Helen Peploe (left) suf fered a fatal heart att ack after she choked on a piece of

lamb at an Indian restaurant in Bolton . Her partner Neil Whit cher tr ied to save her life by

attempting the Heimlich manoeuvre


3/13

Restaurant: Mr Whitcher t old the inquest staff at the Royal Balti House, in Bolton, told

the couple to go upstairs because Miss Peploe was 'upsetting other customers'

Miss Peploe, a charity worker, lost consciousness in the restaurant, suffered a heart attack and died 48hours later in hospital.

An inquest heard the couple had gone out for a meal at the Royal Balti House, Bolton, on July 5.

Mr Whitcher, 50, had enjoyed a meal there before, but said the food served this time had been poor quality.

The lamb was all fat and gristle it was disgusting, he said. I didnt like it so took it out of my mouth butshe said she would try a piece.

She went to spit it out but it slid down her throat.


4/13

Couple: After the inquest Mr Whitcher (pictured with Miss Peploe) claimed the restaurant

should have shown 'more compassion'


5/13

Denial: The restaurant manager Mohammed Iqbal Bhuiyan denied Mr Whitcher's claims

that t hey weren't given adequate attention

She began to projectile vomit and was being sick on the table so I began to bang on her back like I hadbeen shown in first aid trainingthen one of the waiters told me to take her upstairs because she wasupsetting other guests.

'I took her to the bathroom and she was still coughing.

Then the waiter came in and asked if there was anything he could do. I asked if he had rung an ambulanceand he said No, so I told him to ring one.

Mr Whitcher, a former lorry driver, added: When I was on the phone to the ambulance they told me to puther on one side but by then her lips had gone blue.

The manager of the restaurant, Mohammed Iqbal Bhuiyam, denied claims the couple had been ushered tothe bathrooms and said they had been treated with care and attention.

He said a waiter had phoned for an ambulance immediately and the couple were only shown upstairsbecause Mr Whitcher had asked to go to the bathroom.

He added: We could see she was in some distress but [Mr Whitcher] just asked where the bathroom was.

Within three minutes one of my colleagues told me I needed to come to the toilet because he had called anambulance.


6/13

I went upstairs and she was in the ladies toilet with this man and he was talking to paramedics who weregiving him advice.

The hearing was told the restaurant did not have a trained first-aider present on the night Miss Peploechoked but had since appointed one.

Peter Yates, who investigated the restaurant on behalf of the coroner, said the Royal Balti House had donenothing wrong, as it was under no obligation to medically treat non-employees.

Coroner Alison Mutch recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Hearing: Mr Whit cher, outside Bolton Coroner's Cour t, was allegedly told by staff to

escort his partner t o the lavatory while they dialled 999


7/13


8/13

Shocking video of Sudanese woman being flogged

Mother plans to boost bra size to triple-Q

CCTV: Postal worker's unusual delivery method

Mini-skirt ban prompts naked protest by Hungarian students

Lindsey Vonn puts a live squirrel on Tiger Woods

US CAPITOL SHOOTING: Moment police draw guns on driver

CCTV: Moment drunk mother charged with killing four-year-old...

Firefighters destroy nests as hornets kill 41 people in ...


9/13

Cadbury looses purple rights- despite using colour for 100...

MOST READ NEWS

Previous123Next

The White Widow's 'Jihadi children': Secret diary of...

Tragedy as Come Dine With Me's 'best ever' contestant 'kills...

Was Maddie abducted by burglars she disturbed at holiday...

The Devon cult that canes tiny children to 'cleanse their...

She revealed she aborted his baby. Now Simon's terrified...

What a difference three years makes: How political...


10/13

'I miss having chemo now I'm clear of cancer':...

Mini-skirt ban at Hungary university prompts female students...

Now one council house in ten goes to migrants as Tories...

Now pay into the nanny's pension: Middle-class parents face...

Tattooist fined 300 for leaving hairdresser with botched...

One requires a conservatory! Wills and Kate set to join...

Comments (18)

Share what you think

NewestOldestBest ratedWorst rated

View all

Report comment

HawkDebs, London, 22 hours ago

It is likely during the walk upstairs to the bathroom the piece of lamb slid further in to Miss Peploe's gullet and lodged in her vocalcords. There is no doubt she would have had a better chance of survival if she had stayed at the table. FIVE sharp back blows -between the shoulder blades - are recommended for an adult who is choking followed by FIVE abdominal thrusts(Heimlich


11/13

Click to rate

Click to rate

Click to rate

Click to rate

Click to rate

Click to rate

manouvre). If the food is not coughed out and the person is having difficulty breathing CALL AN AMBULANCE and begin CPR -heart massage and breaths blown in to the mouth. It is basic but can save lives. Her partner tried his best and I feel very sad forhis loss.

6173

Report comment

Smith, Manchester, 22 hours ago

Why want a ambulance called? Or taken to a&e..

6922

Report comment

Carlos, Makati City, 23 hours ago

The hearing was was told the restaurant did not have a trained first-aider present on the night Miss Peploe choked but had sinceappointed one. Honestly since when did restaurants have to employ a trained first aider?

83606Report comment

anon, around, United Kingdom, 22 hours ago

I don't know of one but these days NOTHING would surprise me

1085

Report comment

Lg, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 23 hours ago

it seems like there is something missing from this story if she was being as ill as has been stated and she truly was asked tomove upsatairs it seems odd that there was nobody else in the resturant customer or staff who felt the need to call an ambulanceprior to when they did, it sound very much to me that she was only in obvious distress once she had gone upstairs. I really dontthink its fair to blame the resturant over a tragic accident sometimes there is no one to blame as much as in cases like this youwant to.

63390

Report comment

Dr, England, 23 hours ago

I'm so sorry to hear that, what a horrible death. Rest in peace x

10217

Report comment

Saoirse, Wicklow, 23 hours ago

The poor lady, RIP. As part of Health & Safety rules there should be legislation to ensure there is always one member of stafftrained in first aid in any restaurant, choking is more common than they are making out here!

165


12/13

Click to rate

Click to rate

Click to rate

Click to rate

Click to rate

118

Report comment

neweyc, coventry, 23 hours ago

What's Paddy McGuiness got to do with the story? No need for that picture. 'Popular' or not!

17

332

Report comment

kliks, Manc - Eng, 23 hours ago

Can't blame the restaurant im afaid. They were not to know if it was dangerous and looks like they did not as did not get partnerat the start. Her partner should have either called am ambulance or told someone to before going upstairs.

57217

Report comment

JEM, Surrey, United Kingdom, 23 hours ago

Shamefull! Por lady, RIP.

9777

Report comment

Miss Kitty, London, United Kingdom, 23 hours ago

Poor woman - how absolutely awful. As for the staff at the restaurant - shame on them.

232124

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now

Like

MailOnlineFollow

@MailOnline

Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd

Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group

Associated Newspapers Ltd


13/13

Documents

Woman Who Was Choking to Death on Indian Restaurant's 'Disgusting' Lamb Chop 'Was Sent Upstairs to the Toilets - Because Waiter Said She Was Upsetting OTHER Diners' _ Mail Online