A UK woman's family has learned the unfortunate truth in how their 83-year-old relative died after a dog reportedly licked an open wound caused by a nasty fall.
The story, reported by The Telegraph, lays out the series of bizarre events that led to the death of retired legal secretary June Baxter. According to testimony heard at Norfolk Coroner’s Court, Baxter was using her commode on June 29 when she fell, cutting her leg in the process.
After the fall, Baxter used a call device to alert her granddaughter, Caitlan Allin, she needed help. Allin responded a short time later, reportedly bringing her dog with her to Baxter's home in Attleborough.
At some point during Allin's visit, Norfolk Coroner Johanna Thompson says she concludes Allin's dog licked Baxter's open wound on her leg.
As for how she came to the conclusion, Thompson said in testimony, "Mrs Baxter was in frail health. On 29 June she was found to have injured her leg at her home. On the following day she reported feeling unwell. She was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where she was diagnosed with an infection which was subsequently identified to be arising from a domestic dog lick."
Thompson's investigation revealed the bacteria that caused the infection was pasteurella multocida, which is commonly found in the mouths of domesticated animals.
The report says that while Baxter was taken to a local hospital for treatment, her health continued to get worse and she died July 7 after developing serious symptoms of sepsis.
Reports say the coroner listed the manner of death as accidental and noted Baxter's secondary causes of death included pre-existing liver, kidney and heart conditions.
While Baxter's family was reportedly not in court for the testimony, the coroner stated they had been presented with all of the evidence and agreed with the final ruling.
