A YOUNG disabled man died in hospital after contracting septicaemia and pneumonia following a chest infection.

An inquest at Rochdale Coroners' Court heard how on Christmas Eve, last year, 21-year-old Zackrees Siddiq was admitted to Fairfield Hospital with symptoms of a chest infection.

Mr Siddiq had a "complex medical history" and several health conditions, including Down syndrome and cerebral palsy ­— owing to several cardiac arrests he suffered as a child.

He also had a tracheostomy fitted in 1998, without which he would have stopped breathing.

However this also made Mr Siddiq "predisposed to infections", a statement from Dr Daviki O'Riordan, a consultant in respiratory medicine at Fairfield Hospital, said.

Consequently Mr Siddiq had recurrent chest infections throughout his life, although he had not been hospitalised for eight years prior to his death, the court heard.

Mr Siddiq was cared for at his home in Bury by his mother and carers, where he was bed bound and fed via a gastrostomy peg feed.

A statement from his GP, Dr Aslam, said: "I know that Zac was very well cared for at home in respect to all his medical needs, and his mum managed him very well for the last 21 years."

When Mr Siddiq was admitted to Fairfield in December with breathlessness he was found to have sepsis due to pneumonia in both his lungs.

Dr O'Riordan said Mr Siddiq did not respond to treatment and his "mum was made aware that he may not survive this episode."

He later "died peacefully in the presence of his family" on Christmas Day.

Coroner Julie Robertson recorded septicaemia, secondary to pneumonia, as Mr Siddiq's cause of death, adding: "My condolences to the family and friends of Zac".