An asthmatic who suffocated in prison had damaging levels of prescription drugs and heroin in his body when he died, an inquest heard yesterday.

However a report by forensic pathologist Dr. John Obafunwa questioned whether Steven Mansfield (Pepe) Dill's cycle of repeat ventolin and drug abuse, which possibly contributed to the death, could have been prevented by early medical intervention.

Dill, 41, died at the Prison Farm in Ferry Reach, on December 19, 2001, just four months before he was due to be released.

A report by the forensic pathologist blamed the death on suffocation through blocked airways from his asthma with multiple drug abuse being a possible contributing factor.

However another report by Canadian experts did not detect any heroin in his blood.

The court heard that father-of-two Dill, from Pembroke, had been taken to hospital and been given strong anti-asthma drugs on December 18, the morning of the fatal attack.

Bermuda Hospital Board Director of Pathology Dr. Kered James, a consultant pathologist, answered questions about the report written by her predesser Dr. Obafunwa which said Dill had blockages in his bronchial pipes.

She said a post mortem revealed unusually high levels of ventolin in his system which can end up actually triggering asthmatic attacks rather than than help alleviate them.

A toxicology report showed morphine in his urine and blood.

Dr. James said: "My understanding of these chemicals is they are only present when heroin has been administered."

She said opiate drugs such as morphine and its derivatives reduced the ability to breathe.

The doctor agreed that severe asthma attacks required immediate medical attention or they could kill.

Dill's family have claimed in the press that he began suffering an asthma attack soon after 6 p.m.

Inmates have told the family they repeatedly called for doctors and an ambulance, but nothing was forthcoming.

In coroner's court yesterday Detective Sergeant Kevin Christopher produced records which showed calls made from the prison farm to the pager and home phone number of prison nurse Marionette DeShields-Zuill.

It showed a call made at 6.47 p.m. to her pager but Ms DeShields-Zuill said she didn't receive it despite always keeping it on.

Detective Sergeant Christopher could not verify from the phone printouts whether the pager was on or not.

But he said the prison had said there were no written protocols for dealing with medical emergencies.

Ms DeShields-Zuill said Dill was a drug abuser who smoked cigarettes which made his asthma worse.

She said he had been given a new ventolin pump on December 5 and it normally took four to six weeks before a refill was needed but Dill often needed new supplies in half that time.

Her statement said she had been called by Divisional Officer Myron Galloway at around 10 p.m. who said Dill was requesting a new pump to which she replied: "I just gave him one."

She said she promised to go to the prison farm to give him a new one.

As she drove there she got another call from Mr. Galloway at 11.47 p.m. saying Dill "didn't look good" and when would she be there.

She replied in about seven minutes and added: "There was no urgency in his request."

Ms DeShields-Zuill said he arrived at around midnight and found Dill slumped in his chair.

She said: "I tapped his hand and called his name. There was no pulse in the neck or wrist."The nurse attempted CPR and called for EMTs and Dill was rushed to hospital.

She said: "I felt we did everything we could have.

"The whole ordeal left me very surprised and rather concerned. I am confident I did everything possible to assist him."

The court heard that prison officers were not notified of a prisoner's condition because of medical confidentiality. During the Police investigation into the death, Mr. Galloway was twice interviewed but either said nothing of substance or remained silent, said Detective Sergeant Christopher.

The inquest continues today.