Detective Constable Adele Cashman collapsed while chasing teenage muggers in November last year

Published: 20 March, 2013
By ALICE HUTTON

A “YOUNG and fit” police officer who collapsed on duty in Belsize Park died of sudden adult death syndrome, an inquest has heard this morning (Wednesday).

Detective Constable Adele Cashman, suffered a cardiac arrest and fell to the pavement whilst chasing a pair of teenage muggers along Belsize Park Gardens on November 5 last year.

Passers-by, paramedics and her colleagues fought to save her but she never regained consciousness and died in the Royal Free Hospital later that night.

St Pancras Coroner's Court heard today (Wednesday) that the sporty 30-year-old, who was based at Kentish Town police station, was passionate about fitness and took part in triathlons, attended regular gym classes and was planning to run the Edinburgh Marathon.

A forensic post-mortem carried out on her brain and heart found no abnormalities or suspicious circumstances.

Dr Simon Poole, a Home Office pathologist, told the court that by “process of elimination” he had concluded that there had been a “sudden disturbance” to the rhythm of her heart that had been fatal and caused “sudden death”.

He said: “It is unusual but a recognised cause of death in young otherwise fit people.”

Coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe ruled that DC Cashman had died of natural causes caused by a fatal cardiac arrhythmia.

A statement from her friend and colleague PC Claire Hart paid tribute to her as a “strong woman” and said: “I'm completely devastated as how to understand how someone so young could die like this.”

DC Cashman had responded to calls for back-up from two other police officers after a 59-year-old woman had her mobile phone snatched in Haverstock Hill.

The two 17-year-old schoolboys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were each handed a six-month referral order for stealing the £550 phone and fined £42.50 costs at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court.

DC Cashman, who grew up in north Somerset, joined the Met from Avon and Somerset Constabulary in 2006 and was initially stationed in Wandsworth where she worked as a PC.

The St Albans resident transferred to Camden in 2010 as a detective constable.