Man with lung disease died in prison cell 'with air vents painted over'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A man with a lung condition was found dead in his prison cell with his family alleging there was no fresh air inside the space.

Raymond Lucy, 63, had a progressive lung disease but at an inquest on Monday, October 2, his family told a coroner that two air vents in his cell had been painted over and were completely blocked.

They say the only air coming into the cell through the gap under the door, reports the Manchester Evening News.A cellmate found Raymond, a retired HGV driver from Oldham, collapsed inside HMP Forest Bank in Salford on July 11, 2019.His partner, ex-wife Margaret, explained how Mr Lucy had even tried to poke through tiny blocked-up holes in an air vent under the window in his cell by using a small piece of wire.On another occassion, asked to be moved to a cell for inmates with disabilities, but was told by a guard: "Well you are not in a wheelchair, are you?"In a statement, she said: "He told me that he was frightened that he could not breathe - and thought he was going to die."Mr Lucy's family said they had concerns about the healthcare afforded to him at the category B prison in Pendlebury.A smoker, he had been diagnosed with 'moderate' chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and used a nebuliser to help him breathe.The inquest heard that before going into the jail Mr Lucy had no real respiratory issues or cough, but in 2016 had been diagnosed with 'mild' COPD and put on a 'self-management plan' of antibiotics and steroids.Mr Lucy, who was a heavy drinker, received an inhaler and an 'emergency pack' of the drugs after his diagnosis, which was then upped to moderate.He also had mobility issues after previously breaking his back in three places and injuring his neck.