An inquest into the incident was heard at the Crook Coroner’s Court this week.
Durham Constabulary rep John Gray told the inquest mortuary staff observed Martin responding to stimuli verbally and by gripping.
The family’s lawyer, Tom Barclay Semple, questioned whether Martin would still be alive today if emergency crews had taken her to A&E instead of the mortuary.
Instead, she went for two hours with “no treatment at all”, he said.
“What should that treatment have looked like?” Barclay Semple asked.
Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield replied, saying he could not determine how long Martin was deprived of oxygen.
“We know that when Olive was found in her kitchen, she had put toast in her toaster,” Barclay Semple continued.
“That was the day she was supposed to go to work.
“If that was when she was having her seizure we can extrapolate from that.”
The Durham Constabulary investigated the incident at the time of her death but this did not result in any criminal charges being brought.
Director of paramedicine at North East Ambulance Service Andrew Hodge said in a previously released statement: “We are deeply sorry for the distress that this has caused [the family].
“A full review of this incident is being undertaken and we are unable to comment any further at this stage.
“The colleagues involved are being supported appropriately.”
Martin’s family shared in a tribute that they will continue to remember their “Mam” for her “kind heart” and “infectious personality”.
“She was our warrior and she will be deeply missed by every person she has ever met,” they said.
The inquest has been adjourned until January 30.