York man who died after taking insulin was a 'gentle giant' - sister

Michael Oyebode died after taking insulin to treat diabetes

The sister of a man who died after taking insulin hours after he was released from police custody has said he was a "gentle giant".

Michael Oyebode, 41, died at home in York on 29 September 2022 after taking insulin to treat his Type 1 diabetes.

A narrative verdict was recorded as his inquest concluded at Northallerton Coroner's Court on Thursday.

Mr Oyebode's sister Antoinette Okoiye told the BBC he was a "really nice, kind person".

She said: "He was my big brother and I looked up to him. We called him a gentle giant as he was so lovely.

"I do not want his death to be in vain, he was simply a father who tried his best."

'Deliberate act that went wrong'

Father-of-two Mr Oyebode had moved to York in 2006 and worked in web design, before training as a teacher in 2015 and teaching at secondary schools.

Coroner Jon Heath said his death was a "deliberate act that went wrong" as he had usually been "very good at managing his diabetes".

He added Mr Oyebode had also not raised any concerns to staff about his health while in custody at Fulford Road Police Station on 28 September.

He was given insulin by the station's custody nurse before being released without charge at 01:00 BST on 29 September - and his blood sugar level had been normal, the inquest heard.

He was pronounced dead at 14:34 BST after being found in his home by emergency services.

His aunt raised the alarm when she could not get hold of him after his phone was seized by police officers during his arrest, the inquest heard.

It was not returned as it was still needed for the ongoing investigation and the family were concerned his health was affected by this as he used an app on his mobile phone to monitor his blood sugar level.

But the inquest heard he told his aunt he would just get a new phone the following day.

Home Office pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton told the hearing earlier in the week that Mr Oyebode's death would likely have occurred within minutes of taking the insulin.

"I would say [his death] is simply the effects of him taking too much insulin than what was required at the time," she said.