Allergy led to fatal pneumonia, inquest hears

An inquest into the death of a retired Windsor woman who died from lung complications following prolonged exposure to dust has recorded an open verdict.

Valerie Jenkins, 69, of Keepers Farm Close, died on February 17, at Wexham Park Hospital, in Slough, from pneumonia caused by extrinsic allergic alveolitis.

She had previously worked at a mushroom farm for eight years and was also regularly exposed to the pigeons which her husband, George, kept.

It was thought likely her illness was brought on by an allergy to spores or dust inhaled at either of the two sites but that there was no evidence to say for definite which one.

Coroner, Peter Bedford, speaking at the Guildhall, Windsor, yesterday, said: “I am recording an open verdict reflecting the evidence which is not clear to the underlying nature of the allergy which caused the alveolitis.”