Heart defect killed mum of six at hairdressers

12:58pm Thursday 20th November 2008

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An inquest has heard how a Halesowen mum, who collapsed suddenly after having her hair cut, died due to a heart defect.

Mum of six Anna Bennington, aged 38, from Nimmings Road, was having her cut at nearby Scarlett Hair and Beauty when she collapsed.

Dudley Coroners Court heard how Anna died to to a collapsed valve in her heart. Despite paramedics efforts to save her she died before reaching Russells Hall Hospital on June 18 this year.

The court heard devoted mum Anna, who dedicated her life to her children, had not complained of feeling unwell. The last time she had visited her GP was in 2001, when she was pregnant.

Pathologist Doctor Swapnar Ghosh, from Russells Hall Hospital, told the court Anna had unknowingly suffered from a heart defect. She said she had a floppy mitral valve which was ballooning inside her heart chamber.

Doctor Ghosh said: “A floppy mitral valve can cause sudden death.

“The valve is very crucial for the function of the heart, but it is not genetic.”

Born in West Bromwich in 1970 Anna attended Tividale Comprehensive School and moved to Halesowen eight years ago.

Sitting at the inquest on Tuesday November 18, Black Country Coroner Robin Balmain recorded the cause of death as natural causes.