THE sudden death of a 28-year-old Blackburn man will remain a mystery after an inquest was told that a leading Home Office pathologist had been unable to determine the cause of death.

Doctor William Lawler told the inquest into the death of Peter Byrom that he had carried out an exhaustive examination and tests without success.

And he said that while people talk about sudden infant death syndrome being a recognisable cause of death the same argument could be made out for the numerous, unexplained deaths among seemingly healthy young adults.

Peter lived in Calgary Avenue, Blackburn, with his parents Lesley and Margaret. His mother told the inquest that he had returned from a cycle ride on February 16 and complained of feeling unwell and said he was going to sleep it off. When his mother went to his room the following morning Peter was dead.

The inquest heard that Peter was working as an assistant librarian, having returned to the UK at the end of last year after spending seven months travelling. He had visited America, New Zealand, Australia and India.

While in India he had suffered a cut to his forehead and had spent three days in hospital with dysentery and dehydration. Dr Lawler said he could find no link between Peter's travels and his death. He said the only abnormality he found was some microscopic scarring on the heart.

"My difficulty was knowing what that might be due to and whether it might have contributed to his death," said Dr Lawler.

"The extent of this scarring was so small that it could well have gone unnoticed and I cannot say, with any certainty, that it contributed to this young man's death."

Recording a natural causes verdict, deputy coroner Michael Singleton said he was satisfied that Peter's death was not connected with his travels.

"I have considered carefully what Dr Lawler has said and it is clear that occasionally this happens to people who appear to be fit and healthy," said Mr Singleton.

"There is some possibility that it is connected to some irregularity in the heart, but Dr Lawler can not be more specific than that."

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