Parents' shock as coroner rules girl, 4, died of natural causes

A couple who lost their four-year-old daughter said they were "deeply shocked" that the coroner ruled she died of natural causes.

Bonnie Marsh, from Dereham, died at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) in December 2021 following a cardiac arrest.

At an inquest at Norfolk Coroner's Court, area coroner Johanna Thompson said that Bonnie had died from an inborn error of metabolism and a viral infection.

Her parents said they did not accept that their daughter, who had been taken to hospital twice in the days before she died, had the metabolic disorder.

Her mother, Lauren Marsh, walked out of the court room as the verdict was read, telling the BBC she was frustrated by the ruling.

An inborn error of metabolism is a group of more than 1,000 rare, largely inherited genetic disorders where single gene mutations cause deficiencies in enzymes or transporters, disrupting metabolic pathways.

Genetic testing failed to show that Bonnie had a known genetic disorder, the court heard.

In a family statement, Bonnie's parents said she "loved arts and crafts and painting" and described her as having a "huge personality for such a young girl".

Bonnie initially had symptoms of a common cold, but her condition worsened and on 16 December 2021 - two days prior to her death - an ambulance was called after she vomited several times and fainted.

She was taken to the hospital's A&E where she was later discharged with upper respiratory tract infection.

The following day, her father Liam Marsh took her back to the NNUH as he said she was "very unresponsive".

Thompson heard that Bonnie was sick multiple times at the hospital but she was discharged with gastroenteritis, after being given medication to stop her from vomiting.

On Saturday 18 December 2021, Bonnie was taken back to the NNUH by her mother after she was sick during the night.

Lauren said she remembered saying her daughter was going to die as medical staff helped Bonnie.

The coroner was told that Bonnie said "I want to go home" and had resisted having a cannula being inserted before becoming seriously unwell.

The four-year-old had a seizure followed by a cardiac arrest and died.

Bonnie's family said they had "no support at all from the hospital" which resulted in her family feeling "paranoid" or like they were "overacting" to Bonnie's condition.

Bernard Brett, the NNUH's medical director, said: "Our heartfelt condolences remain with Bonnie's family and our thoughts are with them as they relive this very painful time in their lives.

"We hope the conclusion of a full inquest provides the opportunity for closure and we recognise how difficult it has been for the family waiting for answers."

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