Convicted Shrewsbury killer, 40, died after collapsing in probation service meeting

Wayne Austin, aged 40, who stabbed Paul Wayne Rugg to death in Shrewsbury several years ago, took ill while in a meeting with an officer and later died at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

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Austin, who knifed Mr Rugg, 52, twice in the chest and once in the leg at the victim’s flat in Kynaston Road, Harlescott, Shrewsbury in January 2010, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed for nine years.

Austin’s death occurred nearly 15 years later in October 2024.

An inquest into Austin’s death was held at Shropshire Coroner’s Court, Guildhall, Shrewsbury.

The court was told that Austin was released from prison in July 2023. As part of his licence conditions, he had to meet regularly with the probation service to help him deal with alcohol and substance misuse.

On October 10, 2024, Austin had a meeting with worker Charlotte Gibbs at the service’s office in Abbey Foregate.

She said he “kept closing his eyes” and appeared to be drunk. He did not tell her if he had taken any drugs.

Given Austin’s condition, Ms Gibbs ended the meeting and was looking to arrange for him to get a bus or a taxi home.

However, Austin started sliding down his chair. Ms Gibbs helped him to the floor.

She called colleague Ellie Smith, a first aider, to come and help. Austin fell unconscious, so the ambulance service was called. Ms Smith carried out CPR, she estimated, for about 25 minutes.

Medics arrived and took over and, after being told by a woman outside that he had taken crack cocaine, administered doses of naloxone - a drug used to treat opioid overdoses.

However, toxicology later showed no trace of recent cocaine use. The naloxone had no effect and Austin was rushed to hospital, where he died shortly after.

A toxicology report showed Austin had 305 micrograms of alcohol per litre of blood in his system. He was more than three and a half times the drink drive limit. It was said that death can occur when someone has around 350mcg per litre of blood in their system.

Austin also had buprenorphine in his blood - a drug used to treat chronic pain and opioid addiction.

A pathologist gave Austin’s cause of death as buprenorphine and alcohol toxicity.

The court was told that paramedics followed the incorrect guidelines for administering naloxone after not reading all of the four ways and recommended dosages in which it can be given.

Dr Richard Stein, executive medical director for West Midlands Ambulance Service and member of the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee, said there are “issues and concerns” generally around the focus of paramedics administering naloxone “taking away” from them being able to deliver advanced life support.

Dr Rebecca Race, clinical director for Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, was asked whether Austin’s death may have been prevented had the correct dosage been administered.

She said in a statement: “On the balance of probability, I believe his death was not preventable.”

Heath Westerman, deputy coroner for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said: “I’m satisfied, on the evidence I’ve heard and read, that it was not a preventable death.

“The response to his collapse was appropriate, and nothing that perhaps should have been done would have prevented his death.

“He said he had not taken any drugs. No-one was aware that he had.

“Paramedics were told by an unknown lady that he had taken crack cocaine. Toxicology did not show that he had, but he had taken buprenorphine and alcohol.

“In dealing with the crack cocaine, paramedics administered naloxone. They did so following the wrong guidelines.

“However, the evidence I have is that it wouldn’t have prevented his death [if the correct guidelines had been followed].”

Mr Westerman said he has concerns around the guidelines and the ability of paramedics to be able to implement them.

“I will give consideration to issuing a Regulation 28 Prevention of Future Deaths report,” he said.

He recorded a conclusion that Austin’s death was drug-related.

After the hearing, Austin’s mother Sue and sister Tracy spoke to the Shropshire Star.

Tracy said: “He was very troubled, but he was trying to make a change,” adding that he had been doing well on a drug prescription after getting out of prison, before it was stopped.

“The probation all came to his funeral and said he had a heart of gold,” she added.

“He had his problems but he was a good lad,” Sue said.