Devoted couple die just minutes apart; Double tragedy shocks community.Byline: Dan Warburton ADEVOTED couple are believed to have died of heart attacks within minutes of one another. Stewart Whitfield, 56, had just dialled 999 for his wife, Olga, 61, when he too is thought to have suffered heart failure. Police and paramedics smashed their way into the married couple's red-brick semi-detached home in Tracey Avenue, West Boldon, South Tyneside South Tyneside is a metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England. It is bordered by four other boroughs - Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead to the west, Sunderland in the south, and North Tyneside to the north. , and found the pair dead inside. It is believed that Mr Whitfield, a pipe fitter, collapsed at his wife's side as he waited for the ambulance to arrive. Last night Mrs Whitfield's devastated dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. brother, Ivan Hay, who lives on nearby street Don View, said he was still coming to terms with the tragic news. He said: "I've cried myself out today - we just can't believe it. He was only 56 and she was 61. We only found out this morning because there was no way of contacting us but everyone is just heartbroken. "I've spoken to Stewart's brother and he's absolutely gutted. We are all absolutely devastated - that goes without saying." Mrs Whitfield, a grandmother, had two daughters from a previous relationship, while her husband also had a daughter. It is thought Mr Whitfield called the ambulance shortly after 10pm on Sunday and died minutes later. Neighbour Doris Jenkins, 82, said: "I heard sirens outside just after 10pm and looked out to see what was going on. There were two ambulances and a police car in the street. Soon after, I saw them bringing two bodies out of a house. "There is a pane A rectangular area within an on-screen window that contains information for the user. A window may have many panes. See menu pane. of glass in the front door which has been smashed, which wasn't like that the day before. "I would imagine the police and paramedics had to smash it to get into the house. "People are saying that Olga suffered a heart attack and while waiting for an ambulance, Stewart had one too. "They were a lovely couple and were both in good health for their age. She was retired and he worked away a lot as a pipe fitter." Another neighbour, an elderly lady who did not wish to be named, said: "It is very strange. They were both healthy and active. If they went out locally, they would always walk to the shops. For one to have a heart attack would be a bit strange, but for both of them on the same night is unbelievable. "We don't know exactly what has happened and maybe we will never know because the only two people who were there are now dead." The pair's tragic deaths have shocked the community of West Boldon. A 74-year-old man who lives nearby but did not want to be named said: "I just couldn't believe it when I found out. They've lived here for about five years and they were a lovely couple. "I know their next door neighbours will be gutted because it's a real tight-knit community. Everyone looks out for each other and it's so sad that this has happened. "They were a lovely couple and everyone knew them, they were really well-thought of on the street." The coroner's office said a post-mortem had been conducted, but that results were inconclusive INCONCLUSIVE. What does not put an end to a thing. Inconclusive presumptions are those which may be overcome by opposing proof; for example, the law presumes that he who possesses personal property is the owner of it, but evidence is allowed to contradict this presumption, and show who is . An inquest inquest, in law, a body of men appointed by law to inquire into certain matters. The term also refers to the inquiry itself as well as to the findings of the inquiry. into the deaths will be opened tomorrow. The North East Ambulance Service The North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust is the authority responsible for providing NHS ambulance services in North East England, covering the counties of County Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear and the boroughs of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and said they could not give any further details. A spokesman for Northumbria Police Northumbria Police is the Home Office police force responsible for policing the areas of Northumberland and Tyne and Wear in England. The service is the sixth largest police constabulary in England or Wales. As of April 2005, the current Chief Constable is Mike Craik. said they were called to the property just after 10pm on Sunday evening. He confirmed that no third party was involved and that the Whitfields both died from "medical reasons". He said: "Just after 10.12pm on Sunday police were called to Tracey Avenue, in West Boldon, following reports of concerns for the occupants. "The ambulance service also attended. A 61-year-old woman and a 56-year-old man were pronounced dead at the scene. A report is being prepared for the coroner." CAPTION(S): SCENE The house where the bodies of Stewart and Olga Whitfield were found. Below, the front door which police had to smash open. |
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