A BOURNEMOUTH father, who had a mechanical pump fitted to his heart, died after he dropped the controller while carrying his daughter to bed.

Former doorman Darryl McDougal, 51, was fitted with a Left Ventricular Assist Device last December while he waited for a heart transplant operation.

The pioneering piece of equipment helps hearts that can’t work on their own and was a success in Mr McDougal’s case, enabling him to resume a normal life.

But a Bournemouth inquest heard how a freak incident in September caused the equipment to fail.

Darryl’s wife Kate, 42, told the inquest at Bournemouth Coroner’s Court she was woken in the early hours of September 16 by her husband shouting.

“Darryl was shouting ‘Kate, we have to change the controller now.’ The alarm was going off and the red triangle was flashing. We changed the controller and rang 999 but the alarm didn’t stop.

“His breathing changed and he started to sweat and lose colour. He collapsed on our bed.”

Kate, of Moore Avenue in West Howe, carried out CPR on her husband until paramedics took over but it was too late and he died in the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

She later learned that Darryl had been helping their four-year-old daughter Kezzia back to bed when he dropped the controller.

Assistant Deputy Coroner Richard Middleton said the LVAD was sent away for examination, which showed there had been a disconnection in the internal part of the device. He gave a verdict of accidental death.

Kate is now planning a variety of fundraising events to help the Harefield Hospital in London, where Darryl was fitted with the LVAD. These include a pier to pier swim and beach fun day and a ska night at Sound Circus.

She is also hoping to find enough Bournemouth doormen willing to take part in a saucy charity calendar.

“I just want to give something back,” she said. “I never expected to be in this position, it’s horrible, but I want something positive to come out of it.

“Darryl was just perfect, everyone liked and respected him.

“He was a laid back, fun-loving softie and I want to do something in his memory,” Kate added.

She also thanked her father and stepmother Glen and Fiona and brother and sister-in-law Darren and Michelle for helping her and Kezzia cope with their loss.

Anyone who could help Kate should email her at katesymes123@btinternet.com. For more information or to offer assistance with the ska night, email samtunesi@hotmail.com.”