Jen Thomas
A dad-of-one tragically died just 24 hours after being told he had a straightforward case of tonsillitis.
Michael Reynolds, who was just 29, went to his GP complaining of a cough that had lingered for two to three months, as well as a sore and swollen throat.
He was told he just needed rest to recover, before being sent home with a steroid nasal spray and a referral for a chest X-ray. However, his symptoms continued to worsen.
Concerned by the fact that he was now unable to swallow, he returned to his GP the next day and managed to see a different doctor for a second opinion.
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He asked if he should go to A&E due to his inability to swallow, but he was diagnosed with tonsillitis and given a prescription for oral antibiotics instead.
The young dad, who had welcomed his little boy, Jacob, with wife Charlotte just months earlier, went to collect his prescription from the pharmacy, before returning home, when he suddenly collapsed.
He was rushed to hospital, but sadly died the next morning.
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In December 2023, an inquest into his death found there had been a 'missed opportunity' to send him to A&E for urgent treatment.
His devastated family have instructed solicitors to investigate what went wrong, after a post-mortem revealed he had suffered a cardiac arrest.
It was found that it was triggered by a lack of oxygen due to his throat swelling and closing up due to a condition called epiglottis.
According to the Mayo Clinic, 'Epiglottitis happens when the epiglottis — a small cartilage 'lid' that covers the windpipe — swells. The swelling blocks the flow of air into the lungs. Epiglottitis can be deadly'.
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Epiglottitis occurs in about 2 people per 100,000 in the UK, Patient reports. Around 5 in 100 people who develop epiglottitis will die as a result.
His grieving widow Charlotte, 31, said: “Watching Jacob grow up without his daddy by his side is devastating and we miss Michael every single day. Michael meant everything to us and losing him has left a huge hole in our lives that will never go away. We’d do anything to bring him back."
She added: “The inquest and reliving everything again has been particularly upsetting, but at least I now have some answers as to why Michael’s no longer with us and I will be able to explain this to Jacob when he is old enough to understand.
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Charlotte wants to raise awareness of the condition, as many people haven't heard of it before: “All I can hope for now is that by sharing our story, it can lead to improvements in care for others and more awareness around the signs of epiglottitis and the need for emergency treatment, as it’s something I’d never even heard of before.
“I wouldn’t want anyone going through what we have.”
His family feel he was let down, as his throat had swollen so much he was unable to swallow his saliva and was left spitting into a bowl. He also had a high fever and felt very unwell.
An inquest at Lincolnshire Coroner’s Court heard the GP didn’t provide him with 'robust' advice to attend A&E.
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The coroner concluded Michael died from a hypoxic cardiac arrest related to an upper airway obstruction and epiglottitis.
They said if Michael had gone to A&E, he may have been resuscitated earlier, and staff there may have been more familiar with epiglottitis.
The family’s lawyer, Rosie Charlton, said: “This is a truly tragic case where a young dad has lost his life. Charlotte and the rest of Michael’s family are understandably struggling to come to terms with losing him so suddenly and unexpectedly, and under such circumstances.
“They’ve also had a number of concerns about the events that unfolded in the lead up to Michael’s death. Worryingly, the inquest has validated those concerns.
“While we’re pleased to have been able to secure the answers that Michael’s family deserve, it’s now vital that lessons are learned to improve patient safety and help prevent others from suffering in the way Michael did.”