Damian Anthony Murray, 46, of Cedar Close, Kings Worthy, died at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital on April 14 last year, after he was admitted the day before with pains in his chest, thighs and hand, shortness of breath, vomiting and diarrhoea.
The inquest heard that doctors were unsure of where Mr Murray, who worked as a self-employed electrician, contracted the infection.
In a statement read by assistant coroner Simon Burge, Mr Murray’s wife, Alex, described her husband as a “loving father and devoted father to his son and daughter”, who was in “good overall health”.
Winchester Coroners’ Court (Image: Contributed)
READ MORE: What happens at an inquest and what can the press report?
She said that he had been working to lose weight, hitting his target by doing 100 push-ups a day, and had taken up several hobbies including skateboarding alongside their son.
Mrs Murray said that, in the week up to his death, Mr Murray had been feeling fatigued, which he put down to a busy workload, with him injuring his left hand with a handsaw a few days before he was admitted to hospital.
She also mentioned that he and their son had contact with a child who was suspected to have scarlet fever; while the family were initially told that the child had not tested positive for the disease, they were later informed that the test results were incorrect after Mr Murray had been admitted to hospital.
Mrs Murray continued: “They were outside, so I thought it was less likely to spread; they were playing outside.”
Dr Stephen Wimbush, a consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine who treated Mr Murray, said he had been put on antibiotics and fluids when first admitted but continued to deteriorate.
SEE ALSO: Family of man who was found dead in woods after 10 months criticise hospital
Dr Wimbush said: “I was getting increasingly aware that he would not survive the septic shock. I explained that his condition was continuing to deteriorate and that he was unlikely to survive. When his father and sister arrived, I spoke to them; I told them that even if he did survive, he would have lost the use of all of his limbs.”
Dr Wimbush explained that, while he was made aware that Mr Murray had been in contact with a child with scarlet fever, and that he had also injured his hand while working, he and his team were unable to confidently state how he had contracted sepsis.
Speaking to Mrs Murray and Mr Murray’s father Anthony, Mr Burge said: “There was nothing either of you could have done to prevent this, and the shock must have been considerable. You have my condolences for both yourselves and the children.”