An HGV driver had a heart weighing 677 grams- more than twice the normal weight- when he died from a heart attack following an altercation over pay at a Felixstowe lorry park, an inquest heard. 

Valdas Baliutavius, 36, had underlying health issues and a history of heavy drinking, which combined with the stress of the incident, were believed to have resulted in his death in the early hours of the morning on Sunday, October 17 2021. 

DC Elizabeth Smy, of Suffolk Police, told Monday’s hearing that he had arrived in a drunken state at the lorry park in Hodgkinson Road and met four other Lithuanian lorry drivers- Bruzas Sigitas, Mantas Simkus, Tomas Razumus and Ricardis Pakulis. 

Witness statements provided by the other men suggested that he had walked to his lorry with Mr Simkus and they had started to argue over the pay received by lorry drivers in England and Lithuania. 

However, recollections of events had been blurred as all the drivers had been drinking that night, although DC Smy said Mr Simkus told police that Mr Baliutavius had ‘hit him first.’ 

Home Office pathologist Dr Matt Cieka said bruising on one of Mr Baliutavius’ hands was consistent with having thrown a punch. 

Mr Pakulis said he then attempted to restrain Mr Baliutavis, at which point he fell backwards and hit his head on his lorry. 

The drivers then tried to resuscitate him while calls were made to the emergency services by mobile phone. 

Paramedic Tim Pfeifer and other medical colleagues were unable to revive him and he was pronounced dead at 2.12am, some 20 minutes after they arrived. 

Dr Martin Goddard, a specialist in cardiac pathology at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, said a post-mortem analysis showed narrowing of the arteries around the heart and that Mr Baliutavis may have had undiagnosed hypertension, while his drinking may have caused chronic damage to his heart. 

He said: “He carries a baseline increased risk because of the state of his heart, no doubt.” 

Although he had not had any previous symptoms, Dr Goddard added: “I think the stress from the event is likely to have been a precipitating factor in this case.” 

Catherine Wood, assistant coroner for Suffolk, recorded a narrative decision that Mr Baliutavius died from a heart attack caused by alcoholism and the stress of the altercation.