Gabriella Jaiyesimi, 20, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at Tesco in Colney Hatch in Barnet
A woman died after having a seizure in a North London supermarket, where staff failed to deliver first aid and a security guard had no idea what to do, an inquest has heard. Gabriella Jaiyesimi, 20, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at Tesco in Colney Hatch, Barnet, in January. She was rushed to hospital by paramedics with a brain injury but died a month later.
In a damning report, Coroner Mary Hassell said other shoppers could be at risk without urgent changes after she heard evidence Tesco staff at the store lacked basic medical training. While Ms Hassell did not go as far as pinning blame on staff, she did find it would be ‘in the public interest’ for staff to be first aid trained. “I heard that Tesco is committed to looking after its shoppers,” wrote the coroner.
The court heard Gabriella had a fit on January 24 this year, then went into cardiac arrest. Though a member of staff recognised what was happening, no one put her in the recovery position and only a feeble attempt was made to feel for her breathing ‘by placing a single finger somewhere near her nose’. No one checked to see if her heart was beating either.
Despite the lacklustre intervention, Ms Hassell concluded: “It is impossible to say whether, if effective first aid and CPR had been administered, Ms Jaiyesimi’s life could have been saved.”
Ms Hassell also hit out at a ‘first aid trained’ TSS security officer, who ‘repeatedly’ told the coroner his job was to call the duty manager. “Despite being the only first aider present, he took no responsibility at scene. He failed to offer Ms Jaiyesimi or the duty manager any meaningful support at all,” she wrote.
The SIA trained security officer had undergone first aid training too, but he insisted to the court: “His role as a security officer was to ensure the safety and security of people and merchandise in the store.” When the officer was quizzed on his knowledge, Ms Hassell found he had little understanding and it transpired the training had been a ‘tick box exercise’.
The court heard the guard failed to check for a pulse because he did not know how; that he did not consider getting a defibrillator because he had not been trained in its use; and that he had not been taught the recovery position. He denied being asked to put Gabriella in the recovery position.
Security Industry Authority (SIA) spokesperson said: “We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Gabriella Omolabake Torisheju Jaiyesimi, whose tragic death in February 2025 was the subject of a Coroner’s inquest that concluded in August 2025.
“We have received the Coroner’s report which contains a number of concerning observations. As such we are reviewing the circumstances around this case. We will take appropriate action once we have completed our review.”
MyLondon understands Tesco is considering the coroner’s findings and is reviewing its internal processes for responding to medical emergencies. TSS was approached for comment.
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