Peterborough hospital death: Panic alarm not pressed for teen boxer

Hospital staff did not press an emergency panic alarm to alert doctors despite a 17-year-old being "severely ill", an inquest was told.

Christian Hobbs died at Peterborough City Hospital on Boxing Day 2017.

A coroner has been told the amateur boxer had an undiagnosed heart condition but may have been misdiagnosed with sepsis.

He scored a 10 - the most severe grading - in the National Early Warning Score test (NEWS) after being admitted.

The ongoing hearing - which resumed this week having been adjourned last year - is examining issues including the cause of death and whether training protocols were met.

The inquest previously heard Christian experienced flu-like symptoms and was rushed to hospital after his grandfather, a retired consultant surgeon in orthopaedic trauma, said he measured a pulse rate of 240bpm.

He was admitted to the emergency department (A&E) and a critical care consultant previously said there was no cardiologist available when he went into cardiac arrest, because it was a Bank Holiday.

This week, the nurse in charge of the A&E resuscitation room that night, Danny Brown, said three observations were taken of Christian between 18:00 and 20:00 GMT, which reflected "inconsistencies".

The teenager died shortly before midnight.

Edward Ramsay, representing Christian's family, told Mr Brown: "There's no justification on Christian's observation being inconsistent.

"He recorded the highest NEWS score so was medically the sickest patient in the ward."

Christian's grandfather James Christie asked Mr Brown: "How many times does a 17-year-old die in this department?

"And was there a debrief or a post-event meeting held the next day to take lessons on this remarkable incident?"

Mr Brown replied: "It's a very rare occurrence. But no debrief was done... it's a valid point you make though."

Mr Christie further asked "why the alarm to alert doctors was not triggered despite the severity of the patient's condition".

Although Christian was "very ill", he was breathing and his airways were clear, Mr Brown said.

"I want you to rethink that Mr Brown," Mr Christie responded.

The inquest is also trying to identify a male nurse that cared for Christian in the resuscitation ward from 17:50 GMT that evening.

Christian was a boarder at Rugby School in Warwickshire and trained twice a week as a boxer at the Heart of England Community Boxing Club in Hinckley, Leicestershire.

The inquest, at Peterborough Town Hall, continues.

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