by Ed McConnell, Suz Elvey and Tom Acres

An autistic man probably ran a bath at a care home before another resident drowned in it, an inquest heard.

Olaoluwa Abraham, who suffered from epilepsy and learning difficulties, was 26 when he died at Parkwood House, Harrietsham, last October.

Mr Abraham had previously climbed fully-clothed into the tub which an autistic man, who cannot be identified, had been known to fill up and flood the room.

At 2am on October 25, carer Amanda Hemmings – who was on duty with agency worker Ismail Okin – carried out her hourly checks and saw Mr Abraham asleep in his room.

Due to the regularity of his seizures a monitor and movement sensors had been installed, but just over 20 minutes later he was found submerged in the bath.

An emotional Mrs Hemmings told the inquest at Gravesend Old Town Hall that the fire alarm had sounded due to water dripping through the kitchen ceiling. Inside the bathroom she found Mr Abraham in his pyjamas in the overflowing bath, with the taps still running.

She called out to Mr Okin and they hauled him out. Paramedics arrived soon after, and Mr Abrahams was pronounced dead.

Giving evidence to assistant coroner Alison Summers, Mrs Hemmings and Mr Okin said they heard nothing to suggest Mr Abraham had left his room.

Mrs Hemmings said the bathroom light was off and she had not heard the taps running when she had conducted her hourly check. She added no carer had run the bath and confirmed Mr Abraham couldn’t do it himself.

Senior support worker Luke Breakspear, who left the home two months before the incident, recalled two occasions where Mr Abraham had been found in the bath. He insisted he told the home’s manager but couldn’t recall his response.

Dr Abi Abraham, who last saw her son alive two days earlier, said: “He was in a good mood and laughing as usual. The care worker was joking with him and he was totally happy. It was a very pleasant time. It was the last time I saw him.”

Pathologist Dr David Rouse said Mr Abraham died from drowning but epilepsy was a contributing factor as doctors could not be certain whether he was having a seizure at the time of his death.

The coroner recorded an open verdict.