Top lawyer dies one day after hospital discharge

A top lawyer collapsed and died the day after he was released from hospital, an inquest heard.

Cancer sufferer Andrew Kelly had seemed to be recovering from chemotherapy when he was discharged on April 2. But the QC, 55, who specialised in planning, local government and parliamentary law, was found dead in his Pimlico flat.

Professor Mark Bowen, who had treated Mr Kelly, said he could not tell precisely what killed him, despite post mortem tests. But he had believed that the lawyer had "decades" of life left and added: "His death came as a great shock."

Westminster coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox said yesterday: "Mr Kelly had almost every investigation his very considerable team of consultants could arrange for him to try to diagnose what was wrong with him.

"He was known to be a truly great QC and will be a huge loss to the legal profession as well as to his family."

She recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.