Young father, 31, died after choking on a piece of meat just days into a dream holiday in Goa with his fiancée and two-year-old boy

  • Inquest heard that Daniel Scott died after choking on a small cube of meat
  • The meat was found lodged between his vocal cords and air passages
  • Family paid tribute to Daniel Scott as a 'hard-working, dedicated family man'
  • They are still fighting for some of his organs to be returned to the UK from India 

A ‘heartbroken’ family has paid tribute to a devoted father who died after choking on a small cube of meat while holidaying in India. 

An inquest was told that Daniel Scott, of Joiners Court, Kent, was just a few days into his dream family holiday to Goa when he died.

Daniel's funeral was held at Vinters Park Crematorium on April 25 but his family are still fighting for some of his organs to be returned to the UK from India.

Daniel Scott, pictured with Jack and Jade on their dream family holiday. Sadly, the devoted father, of Kent, died after choking on a small piece of meat

Daniel Scott, pictured with Jack and Jade on their dream family holiday. Sadly, the devoted father, of Kent, died after choking on a small piece of meat

The 31-year-old and his wife-to-be, Jade, who has since changed her last name to Scott after his death, had spent the day of February 24 at a waterpark with their two-year-old son Jack

The 31-year-old and his wife-to-be, Jade, who has since changed her last name to Scott after his death, had spent the day of February 24 at a waterpark with their two-year-old son Jack

The 31-year-old and his wife-to-be, Jade, who has since changed her last name to Scott after his death, had spent the day of February 24 at a waterpark with their two-year-old son Jack.

The family then returned to their hotel in the town of Candolim on the west coast.   

An inquest into his death, held at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone yesterday (June 18) heard how the family of three then went to a nearby beach shack for dinner.

Daniel, who worked as a heating engineer, has been remembered by his family in a heartwarming tribute. They said: 'Our hearts are broken. Danny was a devoted father to his son Jack. He was a hard-working, dedicated family man

Daniel, who worked as a heating engineer, has been remembered by his family in a heartwarming tribute. They said: 'Our hearts are broken. Danny was a devoted father to his son Jack. He was a hard-working, dedicated family man

Jade, 30, explained how they enjoyed some food and a few drinks and Daniel played on the beach with their son building sand castles before heading back to the resort.

In a statement, Jade said: 'We left when the shack closed and went back to the hotel. We arrived back at 11pm.

'Daniel decided to go back out and get some drinks as there was nothing at the hotel.

He was spotted by a passer-by whose phone records later showed that he had called the ambulance at 11.43pm and 11.50pm, although paramedics reportedly did not arrive until after midnight

He was spotted by a passer-by whose phone records later showed that he had called the ambulance at 11.43pm and 11.50pm, although paramedics reportedly did not arrive until after midnight

'He said he was going to have a wander around as we had only been there for two days and get some drinks for the little boy. He said he was only going to be about one hour and left at 11.15pm.'

The inquest heard how Daniel was then found lying at the roadside a few hundred yards from the hotel around 30 minutes after he had ventured out.

He was spotted by a passer-by whose phone records later showed that he had called the ambulance at 11.43pm and 11.50pm, although paramedics reportedly did not arrive until after midnight.

Jade said she received a knock on her hotel room door from police officers at 1am informing her that Daniel was sick in hospital and she needed to go immediately.

She explained: 'I told them I could not leave my two-year-old son behind but they said they would leave two police officers with him at the hotel.

'I went with the police to the hospital and the hotel manager came with us. 

'When I arrived, I could see Daniel laying on a bed with a white sheet covering his whole body except his neck.

'I could clearly see he was dead and I was asked to confirm his identity.' 

Daniel's parents Lee Scott and Alison Kent were informed and flew out to Goa the following day.

A post mortem report found that Daniel had choked on a piece of meat and his cause of death was confirmed by Dr Andre Fernandes.

Dr Fernandes said: 'There was a 2.5cm x 2cm x 1cm meat piece of food between the vocal cords and air passage.

'The cause of death was due to asphyxia as a result of choking on food matter.'

Daniel's father Lee said: 'We spoke to Dr Fernandes and he said he would have been dead and would not have survived.

'He knew what it was and said no one could have saved him at the side of the road.'

Assistant coroner Katrina Hepburn recorded a verdict of accidental death and explained the most likely run of events leading up to the moment Daniel choked.

Ms Hepburn said: 'On the balance of probability, it seems that Daniel would have purchased some food which he ate and then choked on.

'There was quite a long period of time between then and the meal earlier, which is why it is most likely he purchased more food and choked on that. 

'This is not a case of him regurgitating food.'

Ms Hepburn concluded: 'There was no concern for Daniel that day. They had dinner together at a beach shack and he had some alcohol but also some soft drinks.

'Daniel went back out alone to obtain cold drinks. The next his family were aware is that there was contact with police at the hotel. 

'His father says they spoke with a gentleman who approached them at side of road a few hundred yards from the hotel on Beach Road.

Daniel's family is still pushing for some of his organs to be returned to the UK from India. They were removed during the post-mortem examination

Daniel's family is still pushing for some of his organs to be returned to the UK from India. They were removed during the post-mortem examination

'He was the man who called the ambulance and said there was a delay in the ambulance arriving. He was found lying on the road, although it is unclear whether he was found to be dead or alive.

'The gentleman said he was making noises but on arrival at hospital he was brought in dead.

'In terms of whether his life could have been saved by sooner medical treatment, I cannot say.

'Dr Fernandes says that a cuboid piece of meat was found fixed between his vocal cords and air passages.'

Daniel's family is still pushing for some of his organs to be returned to the UK from India. They were removed during the post-mortem examination.

Lee explained how they have been told the process may take up to three years but they are working with the British Embassy to speed it up.

He added: 'We feel the cremation is not complete and we want all the parts back.'

Daniel, who worked as a heating engineer, has been remembered by his family in a heartwarming tribute.

They said: 'Our hearts are broken. Danny was a devoted father to his son Jack. He was a hard-working, dedicated family man.

'Danny would take his family on holiday at least twice a year. He wanted to show his son the world.

'Jack is just two years old but has already been to Turkey, Thailand, France, Majorca, and finally Goa. 

'He was already researching his next two trips which would have been Seville and LA to Las Vegas.' 

 

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