HOMICIDE and major inquiry detectives are investigating the unexpected death of an ICU patient at Airedale Hospital.

Police were called in by hospital staff after 60-year-old Geoffrey Kilbey deteriorated and died three weeks after being brought to hospital by ambulance.

An inquest in Bradford yesterday heard that single man Mr Kilbey, of Hillworth Village, Oakworth Road, in Keighley was admitted with pneumonia and reduced lung function after being found on a street on March 28.

Details of the street’s location were not given at the inquest opening which went on to hear how Bradford-born Mr Kilbey was taken into intensive care and had to be fully ventilated.

On April 19 a consultant performed a tracheostomy and told staff to continue to support him but try to wean him off the ventilator using a Continuous Positive Airways device.

A tracheostomy may be created for a number of reasons, including delivering oxygen to the lungs when a person is unable to breathe normally after an injury or accident or because their muscles are very weak

Coroner’s officer Fiona Turner told the inquest this was done but a sudden and significant change occurred. A consultant was called but in a short period of time Mr Kilbey deteriorated and died.

The cause of death was unclear and the matter was referred to the coroner and police informed.

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Detective Chief Inspector Ian Scott from West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Inquiry Unit told assistant coroner Mary Burke his team of officers the investigation could take some time.

“My team are currently looking at the equipment used that day to treat him and are speaking to the clinical staff who also treated him that day. The investigation is ongoing and will take some time. There are numerous lines of inquiries.”

Two forensic post mortems have been carried out and police raised no concerns over Mr Kilbey’s body now being released to his family for cremation arrangements to be made.

“In the light of police inquiries I will suspend the inquest for 28 days so further inquiries can be proceeded with although it’s likely there may be further suspensions.”

A hospital spokesman said: “This is an ongoing police investigation and we are unable to comment at this time.”