An inquest has been opened into the death of a serving prisoner at HMP Littlehey, near Huntingdon.  

Eric Pyle, 68, died at Hinchingbrooke Hospital on May 28, 2024.  

At a brief hearing to open the inquest, it was revealed he had a past medical history including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  

He was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain and was being treated for pancreatitis.  

Caroline Jones, an area coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said a CT scan confirmed it was necrotising pancreatitis and despite treatment the disease progressed. 

She said: “Discussions took place with Addenbrooke’s Hospital [in Cambridge], the outcome being that no interventions were available.” 

Treatment continued but Mr Pyle’s condition deteriorated, and he died on May 28, 2024. 

The medical cause of death was given as necrotising pancreatitis with a past medical history of COPD and gallstones.  

Mr Pyle’s inquest was opened at Lawrence Court, Huntingdon, on Thursday (July 4, 2024) and adjourned for a pre-inquest review hearing in January 2025.  

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has also launched a fatal incident investigation, which is standard procedure for all prisoner deaths.    

HMP Littlehey is a Category C male prison and only holds those who have been convicted of a sexual offence.