Doctors baffled by pensioner's 10 degree temperature drop

Alice Hubbard, 88, who lived alone in a centrally-heated flat on Duke Street, died on February 10 after being rushed to the Conquest Hospital with a temperature almost 10 degrees below the norm.

Speaking to consultant pathologist Dr Mark Boxer and members of Ms Hubbard's family in Hastings Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Coroner Alan Craze said: "This is back to the textbooks in a way. Can this happen? I've never come across it before.

"Dr Boxer has been in his job for thirty-something years. He's never found something like this. It's unexplained."

Neighbour Margaret Blissett has lived in the flat opposite Ms Hubbard for six years. She was called by members of Ms Hubbard's church, who missed her on Sunday, February 7.

Margaret, who described Ms Hubbard as a private, independent and capable person, visited for a second time on Monday. "I called through the letter box and got no response. We found her on the floor.

"She didn't feel warm, but I do not touching her and feeling she was particularly cold."

Ms Hubbard's GP, Dr Stephen Southward, was the third doctor to visit her over the weekend before she collapsed. He described her as "shaky and confused", but admitted he could not explain why her temperature had dropped so drastically.

Recording a verdict of natural causes, Coroner Alan Craze said: "We know she was hypothermic but we don't know why. It doesn't seem to be due to the ambient atmosphere. I would be reasonably sure there's medical reason for it."