A DOCTOR'S receptionist died after contracting an infection which sparked a rare blood disorder, an inquest has heard.

Deborah Carroll, 32, was 35 weeks pregnant when she was rushed into Burnley General Hospital complaining of back pain in March.

She was put on a ward for observation, but the following day was found in a collapsed state and emergency surgery was carried out. The baby boy - named Dante by Deborah and husband Toni - was stillborn and Mrs Carroll remained poorly.

Her condition deteriorated and she died on March 16.

The mum-to-be was a secretary and receptionist at Rosehill Surgery in Manchester Road and already had a six-year-old daughter Aurora.

At the time of her death husband of eight years Toni said he was "absolutely devastated", adding: "She was a quiet and dependable person and was loads of fun. We were both looking forward to the birth of our new baby."

A post mortem examination carried out by Home Office pathologist John Rutherford found Mrs Carroll was suffering from a blood disorder known as Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), a serious bleeding disorder resulting from the overstimulation of the body's clotting and anticlotting mechanisms in response to injury or stress.

The condition occurs when the blood clotting mechanisms are activated throughout the body instead of being localised to an area of injury. Blood clotting factors are used up and haemorrhaging takes place. It affects one out of 10,000 people.

Dr Rutherford told the inquest the DIC in Mrs Carroll could have been brought on by an infection, shown up in samples of blood and placenta analysed.

The cause of death was given as multiple organ failure secondary to an infection.

A fall suffered by Mrs Carroll the day before she was admitted to hospital was likely to be incidental to the cause of death, the inquest heard.

East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor recorded a verdict that Mrs Carroll died of natural causes.