A prisoner from Kingston died just days after his hospital appointment was put off because last year’s snowstorm brought London to a standstill, an inquest has heard.

56-year-old Mohammed Barbhiuyan, who was serving two-year sentence in Wandsworth prison, died from coronary artery disease in February last year, a jury said at Westminster Coroner’s court on Tuesday.

Mr Barbhuiyan, who suffered from chronic diabetes and kidney failure, could not receive dialysis treatment the Royal Free Hospital on February 2, 2009, because it was considered too dangerous to transport him to north London.

Later that day, his cellmate found him slumped back with his eyes open wide and his tongue out. He quickly alerted medical staff in Wandsworth prison’s Onslow wing, normally reserved for the most vulnerable inmates.

After being brought back to life in his cell by medical staff, who arrived at the cell within minutes, he was taken to St George’s Hospital, Tooting, where he died on February 5.

The coroner, Dr Paul Knapman, asked why Mr Barbhuiyan was supposed to be transported to a hospital in north London “at public expense, when there was a similar dialysis unit in St George’s Hospital. Dr Andrew Neil, from Wandsworth Primary Care Trust, said he did not know.

But Dr Peter Wilkins, a senior pathologist, indicated the missed appointment would not have been a cause for the inmate’s death, since his left coronary artery was 70 per cent blocked, indicating that he was in very poor health.

Attending the inquest, members of Mr Barbhuiyan’s family made a point of thanking medical staff at Wandsworth prison for their attempts to save his life.