Fairlie lorry death probe begins
Catherine Bonner was killed when when a HGV collided with her home Fairlie February 14 2013.
An inquiry into the death of a woman who died after a lorry crashed into her house in North Ayrshire, commenced today.
Catherine Bonner, 55, was killed when when a HGV collided with her home on the A78 in Fairlie, near Largs on February 14 2013.
The truck driver George Marshall, 53, from Carluke was originally charged with dangerous driving but had his charges dropped in July 2015 when medical evidence revealed he had fallen unconscious at the wheel.
Today a fatal accident inquiry held at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard evidence from Doctor Peter Bloomfield who examined Mr Marshall twice back in July and August 2014.
Dr Bloomfield told the court: "The most likely cause of the loss of control of the vehicle was because Mr Marshall suffered from coughing syncope.
"It's obvious to me that coughing was the cause of the passing out.
"The balance of probabilities is that he had cough syncope at a tragic time when in control of a lorry.
"He has no prior history of this unfortunate episode."
Coughing syncope is when an individual loses consciousness following a violent episode of coughing or experiences a coughing fit.
Dr Bloomfield said that following a medical examination it was found that Mr Marshall had Carotid Sinus Hypersensitivity which caused an "abnormal" fall in the rate of blood pressure and therefore slowing of heart rate.
He said that it "makes sense" that coupling this with the coughing would result in someone passing out and this matched with the description of symptoms Mr Marshall had provided.
The HGV coal lorry ploughed into Ms Bonner's ground-floor flat on Main Road at about 1.45pm
She had been watching television with he partner, Jim McColl and they became trapped under rubble leading to the death of Ms Bonner.
The inquiry in Kilmarnock continues....