Southend boy's asthma death a tragedy foretold, says inquest doctor

William Gray was described by his mother as a "cheeky" and "clever boy"

Vigorous treatment would have had a "transformational effect" on a boy who suffered a severe asthma attack, an inquest has heard.

William Gray, 10, died at Southend University Hospital in Essex at about 02:00 BST on 29 May 2021.

His mother said his asthma was not taken seriously in the months beforehand.

A consultant in paediatric respiratory medicine told an inquest on Thursday: "It was a tragedy foretold."

Dr Mark Rosenthal, who was not involved in William's treatment but gave evidence as an expert witness, was asked whether his death could have been avoided.

"With standard but vigorous treatment and ruthless supervision [it] would have had a transformational effect on him," said Dr Rosenthal.

'Severe attack'

Essex area coroner Sonia Hayes was told earlier in the hearing that William died after a cardio respiratory arrest due to acute and severe asthma.

His asthma was generally well-controlled and he had not been admitted to hospital for any attacks in the three years before October 2020.

But his mother Christine Hui rang 999 after William was struggling to breathe in the early hours of 27 October that year.

He was discharged four hours after paramedics took him to hospital and a report stated William suffered a "severe asthma attack", the coroner heard.

Dr Rosenthal said: "He had the most severe possible attack without actually dying in October."

Ms Hayes said GPs looking at the report would have believed that William suffered an asthma attack, rather than a respiratory attack.

The consultant said the case "was crying out for somebody to get a grip on this" and added: "This is what upsets me about this case, is that it was blindingly obvious."

The inquest is ongoing at Essex coroner's court in Chelmsford

In spring 2021, William's asthma began to get worse again and Ms Hui spoke to his GP, the asthma nurse and the GP practice nurse a few weeks before he died.

Ms Hui said in a statement: "Since William's death, I have been concerned no one took his asthma seriously.

"I was never reassured that doctors and nurses understood how serious the attack was."

She has described her son as a "cheeky" and "clever boy" who dreamt of being a doctor.

The inquest continues.