‘Silent disease’ caused death of ‘healthy’ man on Croagh Patrick

A 59-year-old Galway man who died on Croagh Patrick after suffering a massive heart attack did not have a history of heart disease and his condition was described as a ‘silent disease’. Michael Joseph Owens formerly of Ballyfruit, Headford, Co Galway died on Croagh Patrick on June 2, 2025 after suddenly collapsing after feeling dizzy while on the descent of the holy mountain.

The inquest into the death of Mr Owens which was held in Ballina courthouse heard that despite CPR being performed on him almost immediately after collapsing and the defibrillator being also used on him, he did not respond to treatment and died on the mountain. Mr Owens was described at the time of his death as being ‘very healthy’ with no history of high blood pressure but the post mortem found that Mr Owens had a 70 percent blockage of the right coronary artery in the heart.

Dr Fadel Bennani, Consultant Pathologist told the inquest that his theory is that the muscle of the coronary artery went into spasm and as a result it caused sudden arrhythmia which caused death. He explained that with the spasm it would have caused the complete blockage of the artery and there was no evidence that exertion from the climb would have caused the spasm. Dr Bennani explained to Mr Owen’s widow, Ciara Owens that he had no other explanation for his death because all the organs were normal.

Mrs Owens said her husband was a fit man who had climbed Croagh Patrick on numerous occasions and in the past had climbed Kilimanjaro and was an active man. Earlier in the inquest, Cathal Divilly said he had been climbing Croagh Patrick at 12.15 when he noticed a man resting at a rock who started wobbling when he got up and told him. Mr Divilly said the man said he was feeling dizzy and he fell forward but he managed to catch him before he fell. Mr Divilly said he called out for help and a man who said he was a policeman came to assist and started to perform CPR. Not responding He said he continued to talk to the male but he was not responding and other people started to assist with CPR.

Another man, he said, went to get the defibrillator and when he arrived back they shocked Mr Owens on four occasions but to no avail. Advanced paramedic Tommy Hoban said they reached the casualty at 1.23pm and commenced life support but there was no response and he pronounced death at 1.40pm. Coroner for Mayo, Dr Eleanor Fitzgerald, said that the death happened without any warning but it was fortunate that everything was done to resuscitate Mr Owens. She recorded a verdict of death due to natural causes and said the death pointed out the importance of people being aware of these silent diseases.

She expressed sympathy to Mr Owens widow and his children and commended the emergency services and Mr Divilly and the other people who went to help him on the mountain. Mrs Owens also thanked all those who went to her husband’s assistance and knew that all that could be done for him was done.

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