Inquest: Ringwood postman James Dow died from severe blood loss after ulcer ruptured

A RINGWOOD postman was found dead in his van after an ulcer on his foot ruptured, an inquest has heard.

James Dow suffered severe blood loss before being found in his work van by a member of the public on 12th October last year at Beaver Lake Farm on Crow Hill in the town.

Winchester Coroners' Court heard Mr Dow, of Barrack Lane, Ringwood, had been incorrectly diagnosed with gout during a phone consultation on 27th September with now-retired GP Elizabeth Wilson of Ringwood Medical Practice.

Nina Dow, James's wife, told the coroner her husband had been suffering swelling in his left foot and leg since the middle of September, and the skin on his foot had turned brown.

But Mrs Wilson said Mr Dow made no mention of the ulcer on his foot or the brown discolouration of his skin during their phone appointment.

The coroner heard that after the phone consultation, Mr Dow told his family the doctor had said "Let's go with gout" based on the symptoms he described being similar to two previous occasions when he suffered the disease.

Mrs Wilson, who worked as a GP for 34 years before her retirement, said the phone consultation took place during the Covid lockdown.

She added that if Mr Dow had mentioned the ulcer or brown discolouration, she might have requested he send a photo and book a face-to-face appointment.

Mrs Wilson said that during a follow-up phone consultation with Mr Dow on 1st October, he had told her the swelling had "settled" and that he planned to return to work, again making no mention of the ulcer or discolouration.

Reading a statement from Mr Dow's line manager, the coroner said he returned to work on 12th October and complained of foot pain to his line manager, who gave him "general pain management" advice, adding that foot pain is "common" for mail workers.

Mrs Dow, who told the court she was also unaware of her husband's foot ulcer, described him as a "really stoic" man and that "if you cut his foot off, he would still go to work".

She told the court that on the day her husband died he had "for the first time ever" popped home for a cup of coffee while on his route, but made no mention of his foot pain to her, and was found dead a few hours later.

Reading from a pathologist's report, the coroner said Mr Dow had a 2cm ulcer on his left foot which was 3mm from an artery, adding that this may have exacerbated his blood loss when the ulcer ruptured.

Mr Dow's son Jamie told the court his father was a "very active" person who loved the outdoors and his family very much.

Recording a narrative verdict on Mr Dow's death, coroner Jason Pegg said an undiagnosed ulcer on his left foot ruptured and caused severe blood loss. He offered his "sincere condolences" to Mr Dow's family.