South Yorkshire Times, April 18, 1953
“Changed Person” After Accident
Puzzle of Young Kilnhurst Man’s Death
The jury at a resumed Mexborough inquest conducted by Mr. C. B. Marshall Deputy District coroner, yesterday, returned a verdict of “misadventure” on Derick Thickett (21), Elm Tree Farm, Kilnhurst. Who died in Mexborough Montagu hospital on December 13th. Evidence was given that since being involved in an accident at Swinton last July, when he received an apparently slight injury to the head, Thickett had been “a changed person.” Before the accident he had been perfectly fit and free from illness. After the accident he suffered frequent headaches and giddy spells and lost much of his energy.
No Disease
Dr. Henry Ledger, Doncaster Royal infirmary pathologist said that death, was due to a cerebral haemorrhage (a stroke). There was no evidence of disease and nothing to account for the haemorrhage. There was nothing to prove that there was any connection between the accident in July and the haemorrhage in December. Cerebral haemorrhage did sometimes occur, even in young people, as a result of an in-born weakness of the walled of the brain vessel. It was impossible to discover if this had been the case as far as Thicket was concerned as the haemorrhage destroyed the vessel.
The complete change that had been noted in him since the accident did not necessarily prove a connection between the accident and the haemorrhage, Dr. Lederer said. After a blow on the head and slight concussion there were sometimes changes of personality. The symptoms described could quite correct. But they were not necessarily connected with the haemorrhage.
Replying to Mr. J. P. Crehan, solicitor for Thickett’s relatives. Dr. Lederer said that there was a possibility that the accident was connected with the haemorrhage, but he rather doubted it.
Mrs, Harriet Thickett said earlier that on the day after the accident last July, her son complained of a headache. He had a slight graze on his forehead resulting from the accident. A few weeks later he had the first of a number of “attacks,” during which he trembled, and during which all sounds seemed to him to be far away.
Wanted To Be Still
Miss Wendy Marie Burgin (17), 125, Dearne Road, Bolton, said she was riding with Derick in his van when the July accident occurred. He received a slight cut on his ear and his forehead was slightly grazed. After the accident he seemed always to have a bad headache and he never wanted to do anything; he wanted to be still. On the morning of his death he fell down at her home and complained of pains in the head. She telephoned a doctor who came straight away by this time derrick was un-conscious. An ambulance was sent for and he was taken to hospital, where he died very soon afterwards.
In reply to Mr. White, solicitor on behalf of Dennis Taylor, the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident, Miss virgin said that Thickett had made no complaint of any injury immediately after the accident. P. C. H Stead (Swinton) said Thicket not complaint to him of any injury. He heard informally the following day that Thickett had been to the doctor about the graze on his head.