A pathologist has told an inquest he believes mould played a part in the death of a young man from Oldham.

At Rochdale Coroners' Court today (August 8), the inquest into the death of Luke Brooks, who was just 27 when he died on October 25 last year, continued.

Mr Brooks died at his home on Huxley Street and his family have said they believe mould in the damp property led to Mr Brooks' death.

The court heard evidence from Dr Abdul Ganjifrockwala, a consultant pathologist at Royal Oldham Hospital who carried out the post-mortem examination following Mr Brooks' death.

Dr Ganjifrockwala gave his cause of death as acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by aspergillus-related bronchopneumonia.

Aspergillus is a type of mould that was found in Mr Brooks' lungs and Dr Ganjifrockwala said he believed the mould caused the pneumonia.

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When asked by area coroner for Manchester North, Joanne Kearsley, if he felt on the balance of probabilities that the mould had played a role in Mr Brooks' death, Dr Ganjifrockwala said he believed it did.

Dr Ganjifrockwala also said it was possible Mr Brooks’ symptoms were evidence of a viral infection which "could have made his lungs more susceptible to the development of aspergillus infection".

Also giving evidence was Professor Malcolm Richardson, a consultant clinical scientist in medical mycology at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

Mr Richardson said when he visited the house on Huxley Street in April this year, roughly six months after Mr Brooks' death, he found "very little aspergillus in the property", with most of the mould being penicillium, which is not a pathogen, although it can cause allergic reactions.

He explained he did not know how Mr Brooks could have ingested aspergillus and that he did not know what had caused the growth of mould in the home.

Mr Richardson also said it was "hard to believe" that aspergillus was growing in the house at the time of Mr Brooks' death and that there is no example in academic literature of aspergillus pneumonia being caused by chronic mould in homes.

The court has heard evidence that Mr Brooks had begun to feel ill around a week before his death and had symptoms including a sore throat, vomiting, a cough and a rash.

On the morning of October 25 last year, Mr Brooks had what his friend and roommate Chris Haycock described as a seizure before 999 was called and paramedics arrived.

Despite the efforts of emergency workers, Mr Brooks was pronounced dead at the scene.

Yesterday (August 7), the court heard from Mr Brooks' mother, Patricia, who said the family had raised concerns over mould, damp and leaks at the property over a number of years.

PC Adam Rogers, who attended the property shortly after Mr Brooks' death, said: "As you walked in the room, you could feel the damp on your lungs, it made your chest feel tight."

The court has heard evidence that Mr Brooks spent most of his time in his bedroom.

The inquest continues this week.