Martial arts-mad boy died despite desperate attempts of family, an inquest has heard (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Martial arts-mad boy Donal Alleyne died despite desperate attempts of family, an inquest has heard

7:00am Monday 22nd October 2012 in News

Martial arts-mad boy died despite desperate attempts of family, an inquest has heard

A martial arts-mad boy died from an asthma attack despite the desperate attempts of relatives to revive him, an inquest has heard.

Donal Alleyne, of Old Hospital Close, Balham, was found by his mother on the floor having a severe asthma attack on August 10.

A family member performed CPR until ambulance staff arrived with a defibrillator.

Alleyne’s GP, Prakesh Shah, said that he had seen the boy repeatedly from his diagnosis in 2003 onwards.

His mother Natasha sought a second opinion in 2010 from Dr Balfour-Lynn, a consultant at Royal Brompton, who changed his medication.

A pathologist’s report concluded there was an "asthmatic contribution to his death" but also that he had other respiratory problems. The Fircroft Primary School pupil was also diagnosed with emphysema in 2007.

Ms Alleyne tried to encourage a healthier lifestyle for him, taking him to the Saltcave, an alternative therapy centre, and tried to cut down on the amount of medication he was taking.

Donal started kick boxing in May 2011 as a way to exercise and improve his breath control.

In his verdict, assistant deputy coroner Russell Caller, sitting at Westminster Coroner's Court on Friday, said: "The cause of death was a sudden asthmatic attack brought on by years of asthma."