Pages On: Wrongful & Accidental Death

Fatal Accident in Cardiff Claims

Posted in: Personal Injury, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Accidental deaths are mostly sudden and totally devastate a family with no warning. This leaves those close to the deceased with a crushing sense of sadness, confusion, anger, and worry. Not only do the bereaved have to suffer the emotional distress of the Fatal Accident, but also the financial strain such a loss can take. All of this, whilst those responsible hope to get off scot-free. Claim compensation for the accidental death of a loved one in Cardiff. We give your family the justice the deceased deserves, whilst compensating you…

Two midwives responsible for baby death

Posted: 2 March 2016

Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust have accepted the findings in a report commissioned by NHS England, that two midwives should be held responsible for the death of a baby six hours after her birth. The report was carried out by the External Midwifery Supervisory Review after years of campaigning by the baby’s parents. Kate Stanton-Davies died just hours after being born in March 2009.  She was born with anaemia and was “pale and floppy”.  The report raised “serious concerns” about the fitness of the two midwives to practice, neither of whom had…

Death caused by potential breach of health and safety rules

Posted: 30 January 2016

Posted in: Road Traffic Accidents, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A trial is currently underway to look into the tragic death of 62-year-old Philip Ledward from Whitchurch in Shropshire. Mr Ledward, who was working for Arkenfield Stable Hire Ltd, died in November 2011 after being hit by a car whilst helping a lorry to reverse into a yard in the dark.  Mold Crown Court were told that it was “an accident waiting to happen”, and the company and general manager Phillip Sutton are standing accused of breaching health and safety rules. Both deny the charges. Arkenfield, of Bronington, Wrexham County, have…

Child care failings Wales

Posted: 24 January 2016

Posted in: Wrongful & Accidental Death

Pembrokeshire council is soon to publish a report carried out by the Child Practice Review following the death of eight-year-old Dylan Seabridge in 2011. The report, which was written in 2013, was recently leaked, and concluded that certain laws in Wales surrounding child care needed to be strengthened urgently. Dylan, who died of Scurvy, was being home educated by his parents, and despite concerns being raised a year before his death, had not been in contact with authorities in the seven years before his death. At the inquest into his death it…

MoD ‘breaking its own safety rules’

Posted: 24 December 2015

Posted in: Armed Forces Injuries, Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Two lawyers are to inform MPs that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has repeatedly failed to follow its own safety guidelines on a number of occasions, leading to hundreds of injuries each year for military personnel. The lawyers will tell the Defence Select Committee inquiry that the regulations are being routinely ignored, and, that had they not been ignored, the deaths of three soldiers during an SAS selection course would have been prevented. The three army reservists – Edward Maher, Craig Roberts and James Dunsby – had been taking part…

Pensioner’s poor care causes death

Posted: 16 December 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The family of a pensioner who died after being admitted to a north Wales hospital with an infected wound announced that something went “drastically wrong” with his care. 81-year-old Alan Walker from Flintshire died at Wrexham Maelor Hospital in January 2014 after being admitted to the hospital with a skin infection. Mr Walker had been recovering from a cancer operation when the infection developed. In a statement released by Mr Walker’s widow, Irene, doctors said that food had entered his blood stream, which then caused a heart attack. Toxic shock…

Fatal heat illness not recognised

Posted: 1 December 2015

Posted in: Armed Forces Injuries, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

After a soldier died following an intensive punishment exercise, an inquest has revealed that no clear risk assessment was carried out beforehand, which would have been enough to save his life. 22-year-old Pte Gavin Williams was ordered to carry out the informal punishment exercise for being absent without leave. On one of the hottest days of 2006, he was forced to undergo the gym exercise known as “beasting”. Pte Williams, of Hengoed, Caerphilly County, collapsed at the Lucknow Barracks in Wiltshire shortly after the exercise. His superiors failed to recognise…

Weekend babies ‘significantly’ higher chance of death

Posted: 29 November 2015

Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

In a study published in the British Medical Journal has revealed that babies born in English hospitals at the weekend have a ‘significantly’ higher chance of dying than those born during the week.  The study looked at the rates of stillbirths or deaths within seven days from 2010-12 and comprised more than 1.3 million births. The result showed that around 7.1 deaths per 1000 babies born at weekends was 7% higher than babies born on weekdays. The team from Imperial College London estimated that there would be 770 fewer deaths…

Improved safety required following third pond death

Posted: 9 November 2015

Posted in: Public Place Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A teenager from Pembroke is the third person to die in a pond in Pembrokeshire this year. Robert Mansfield had been out with his friends celebrating his 18th birthday when he drowned in the pond in July. His aunt, Sue Mansfield, has created a petition calling for severe safety changes to be made to Mill Pond to prevent further deaths.  It is currently unclear how Robert died in the pond, but an inquest into his death is due to be held on 26 November. His aunt said: “He really was…

Road changes made following deaths

Posted: 2 November 2015

Posted in: Bus Accidents, Pedestrian Injuries, Public Transport, Road Traffic Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Following two deaths and a number of injures, Swansea’s Kingsway has been transformed into a new one-way system. Before the change, cars and lorries were restricted to one-way traffic, yet buses and taxis used a separate two-way section. However, after the second person was killed crossing the road in the last two years, the local authority decided to implement changes to the road system – installing a one-way system for all traffic. All motorists and road users will now travel in a westerly direction. March of this year saw Sgt…

12-year-old killed in fatal river swing fall

Posted: 2 October 2015

Posted in: Public Place Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A 12-year-old boy from Llangollen, Denbighshire has died following a rope swing fall in the Dee Valley. Ethan Rainey had been playing on the rope swing beside the River Dee near the Pontcysyllte aqueduct on Wednesday when the accident happened. It was heard that the boys had been looking for conkers to play with by the river when they decided to play on the rope swing. It us unknown how the fall happened, but his death is not being treated as suspicious. Emergency Services were called to the scene at…

Inquest unable to determine death of Downs Syndrome patient

Posted: 25 September 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

An inquest into the death of 27-year-old Downs Syndrome patient Jamie Appleby, from Denbigh, Denbighshire, has been unsuccessful in determining the cause of his death. Mr Appleby died at the Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan in November 2005 two days after he was admitted. It was heard that Mr Appleby’s condition had significantly deteriorated in the week leading up to his death after he suffered a stroke. Coupled with declining respiratory pneumonia and clots within the lungs, it is believed that this “exacerbated his terminal decline” and caused his subsequent…

Firm fined following worker fall

Posted: 23 July 2015

Posted in: Falls from Heights, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A Cardiff-based building firm has been fined £200,000 after a worker fell to his death from a department store front in 2011. 60-year-old Philip Evans, from Penarth, Vale of Glanmorgan, had been contracted to repair glass above a Debenhams store entrance in Exeter when he fell through the opening. He died from the severity of his injuries. Mr Evans had been working for Cardiff-based London Fenestration Trades when the accident happened in November 2011. The firm was sub-contracted by construction firm Sir Robert McAlpine – both firms pleaded guilty to…

Widow wins compensation over 3-hour wait

Posted: 9 June 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A widow has been awarded £1,000 in compensation after her dying husband was forced to wait for 3 hours before being seen by a doctor. The health board offered its sincerest apologies to the widow and her family, and paid her £1,000 after the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales said that the board failed to ensure there would be out-of-hours GP cover at the time of the man’s requirement. The man died in July 2013. It was heard that the man was receiving end of life palliative care at home…

Father released from hospital “too soon” commits suicide

Posted: 2 May 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The son of a man who had just been informed that he was terminally ill, has told an inquest that he believes that his father, Mr Richard Middleton aged 83 from Aberystwyth, was released from hospital too soon. He also claims that not enough home support was offered to Mr Middleton, who subsequently took his own life as he couldn’t find a way to cope with his situation.  Mr Middleton was released into the care of his 86 year-old wife in November of 2014, and was found drowned in the River…

Former midwife accused of baby deaths

Posted: 2 May 2015

Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A hearing expected to last until 15 May is underway to investigate the actions of former midwife, Marie Ratcliffe, and their contribution to the deaths of 2 new born babies. Elleanor Bennett died in 2004 and Alex Davey-Brady in 2008.  The accused also accepts more than 60 additional allegations which include failure to seek doctors’ assistance, failure to adequately monitor mothers and babies during labour and failure to document her actions. She denies, however, attempting to cover-up the mistakes and any effort to “conceal the truth”. Reading out a letter from…

Senior Coroner warns of Swansea road’s “serious design issue”

Posted: 14 April 2015

Posted in: Bus Accidents, Pedestrian Injuries, Road Traffic Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Mr Colin Phillips, who sits as senior coroner for Neath Port Talbot, has issued a report to councillors highlighting the “serious design issue” which “must be addressed” concerning The Kingsway stretch of road in Swansea. Following the death of off duty police officer, Sergeant Louise Lucas, 41, who was hit by a bus on the road on 31 March, 1.2m high barriers have been put in place on the road ahead of a council meeting on potential changes to the road layout. Swansea council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to…

Inquest into 20-year-old death

Posted: 19 March 2015

Posted in: Public Place Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

In inquest has been opened into the death of a 20-year-old man from Ross-on-Wye. It was heard that Ollie Floyd got trapped underwater in a lake at Newport’s Celtic Manor Resort after an agricultural spraying vehicle rolled into the lake near the Twenty Ten Course clubhouse. The provisional cause of death on 3 March is immersion. Following the accident, Mr Floyd was rushed straight to the city’s Royal Gwent Hospital in a critical condition. It was later confirmed that he had died. A 46-year-old man, also from Ross-on-Wye, had been…

Family awarded compensation for operation leading to mother’s death

Posted: 3 March 2015

Posted in: Head & Brain Injuries, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The family of a woman who suffered a severe brain injury in hospital has been awarded compensation for their suffering. 62-year-old Margaret Parsons was being treated in the University Hospital of Wales for coronary heart disease when the incident happened. Following her heart surgery, Mrs Parsons complained of breathing difficulties because of phlegm in her throat. Hospital staff failed to recognise this as a cause for concern. It was found that as a result of staff failing to clear the mucus from her airways, her airways became obstructed. She then suffered a…

Care home scalding death ‘accidental’

Posted: 18 December 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The death of 88-year-old Beatrice Morgan, who suffered burns to 18% of her body because of a scalding bath, has been recorded as accidental. A care assistant at the nursing home had been running the bath while two other carers prepared Mrs Morgan. Nicky Heaps, who had been working at nursing homes for around ten years before moving to work at Greencroft, told the hearing that she had not been provided with any formal training at the nursing home. It was heard that she had recorded the temperature reading of 38 degrees…

Families await inquest results following kidney deaths

Posted: 4 December 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The families of two men are still waiting to hear why both men died after being given kidneys infected with a meningitis-causing parasitic worm during transplant procedures. Robert Stuart (67) and Darren Hughes (42) were given the infected organs in Cardiff in 2013 from a donor who died from meningitis. Prof Christopher Watson said that no one could have anticipated this tragic outcome. Prof Christopher Watson was a member of a three-person panel arranged to review the case of the two deaths. He told the panel that personally he would not…

Family calls for inquiry over mine deaths

Posted: 30 November 2014

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The family of one of the men killed in the Gleision mine tragedy has called for a public inquiry. Four men were drowned in the 2011 accident after 650,000 gallons of water flooded the mine they were working in following a controlled explosion. The parents of one of the men said they are still seeking answers. Charles Breslin (62), David Powell (50), Philip Hill (44), and Gary Jenkins (39) were all working in the drift mine when the accident happened three years ago. A controlled explosion was carried out in the…

Two deaths following kidney operation

Posted: 15 November 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Two men have died after undergoing kidney transplants from the same donor. It was discovered that the donor’s kidneys, and other organs, had already become infected with a parasitic worm. Robert Stuart, from Cardiff, and Darren Hughes, from Bridgend, died from the infection just under a year ago.  An inquest into their deaths will be held on Tuesday of next week (18 November). 67-year-old Mr Stuart and 42-year-old Mr Hughes had both undergone kidney transplants at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff last year. They both died of a…

Child death following ambulance delay

Posted: 24 October 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

After a three-year-old girl died of respiratory problems following a house fire, her family have demanded answers as to why an ambulance did not arrive sooner. The fire broke out in the family’s home in Bryn Gorwel in Carmarthen on the 15th of July. 3-year-old Angel Smith’s parents both survived the accident, after Mrs Smith was rescued with her daughter by a firefighter and Mr Smith jumped from a window. It was heard that several people attempted to resuscitate Angel before an ambulance came over half an hour later. MP for Carmarthen…

Expectant mother sent home “in agony”

Posted: 4 October 2014

Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A mother-to-be was sent home from hospital “in agony” only a couple of days before her baby died.  Amanda Skyes had been rushed into hospital during labour, but was told by doctors that she could not be induced, as she was not ten days over her due date.  Ms Skyes said in a statement that she felt “concerned” about being at home, having been discharged from hospital with paracetamol for the pain. The following day Ms Skyes went into labour and was rushed to Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan. Midwives told…

Patient died after care home scalding

Posted: 28 September 2014

Posted in: Arm Injury, Leg Injuries, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A patient at a care home in North East Wales died in 2012 after being lowered into a scalding bath. 88-year-old Beatrice Morgan, a former nurse herself, had been staying at the Greencroft Residential Home when the accident happened. She suffered severe burns to 18% of her body at the care home in Deeside. She died shortly after. It was heard at Flintshire Magistrates’ Court that Mrs Morgan suffered burn injuries to her lower legs, upper body and left arm after being lowered into the scalding hot bath by care…

Major increase in injured motorbikers

Posted: 25 August 2014

Posted in: Motorcycle Accidents, Road Traffic Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

New figures have revealed an increase in the number of motorcyclists killed and seriously injured on the roads in Wales. Two police chief constables came forward with their concerns about the increase, describing it as a “very real public safety concern”. Figures found that in this year alone, 15 people have died and 72 have been seriously injured in motorbike accidents.  The North Wales and Dyfed-Powys chief constables said that lowering this number is a top priority. They said that riding with too much speed and general judgement errors, particularly on…

Death prompts ambulance increase

Posted: 24 August 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The death of a young girl in Gwynedd has prompted the ambulance service to reevaluate its staffing levels in rural areas. The six-year-old girl died from chocking while on holiday with her family. The Welsh Ambulance Service sent two community first responders who arrived within 16 minutes – double the eight-minute response time target – but they were unable to save her. Jasmine Lapsley was on holiday with her family in Morfa Nefyn when she started to choke at 20:30 on Tuesday.  Emergency services were contacted immediately and sent two…

Unsafe path kills snowdon walker

Posted: 31 July 2014

Posted in: Public Place Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

An inquest into the death of a man who after falling 600ft (180m), died on Mount Snowdon earlier this year, has found the unsafe path to be the problem.  A coroner wants to significantly improve the mountain’s public pathways that continue to leave “people in peril”. 21-year-old Dylan Rattray had been climbing Snowdon on the 18th of April when the accident happened.  It was heard that he fell around 600ft after the path he had been following started to fade. Having suffered multiple injuries after the fall, the deputy coroner,…

Football club admits failures following death

Posted: 26 July 2014

Posted in: Public Place Accidents, Sporting Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Caersws Football Club has pleaded guilty for the safety failures that led to the death of a 12-year-old boy.  Casey Breese had been playing football with some friends when the metal goalpost fell on him and subsequently crushed him to death.  The accident happened in July 2011, after which the club initially denied charges until they changed their plea on Wednesday. Casey had been playing football with four friends when the accident happened.  He had been in goals and had tried to save the ball when the net got caught…

Concerns raised over motorcyclist deaths

Posted: 8 June 2014

Posted in: Motorcycle Accidents, Road Traffic Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The Dyfed-Powys Police commissioner has raised concerns over the number of motorcycle deaths that have occurred over the last year.  A recent report has highlighted a spike in the number of bikers killed in crashes across mid and south-west Wales over the last year.  A total of nine bikers have died in crashes already this year. Commissioner Christopher Salmon believes that road users need to be more aware of motorcyclists, and that both drivers and riders need to travel with “conditions in mind”.  The most recent of the nine motorcycle…

84-year-old dies as a result of undiagnosis

Posted: 29 May 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A coroner has ruled that the death of an 84-year-old man was due to undiagnosed rib fractures during his time at hospital.  George Lonsdale was taken to Nevill Hall hospital after falling at his home in Monmouth in June of last year.  The coroner ruled that his death 12 hours after arriving at hospital was because of a haemothorax, blood within the chest, which was caused by his undiagnosed fractured ribs. At the inquest hearing, which took place at Gwent Coroner’s Court in Newport, the son of Mr Lonsdale, Brent…

Hospital death inquest granted

Posted: 20 April 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Almost a year after the death of a disabled man who died in a routine operation, his family have been informed that they can have an inquest.  51-year-old Timothy Cowen from Caergwrle, Flintshire, died last May following a gall bladder operation.  After the family was informed of the cause of death, an independent post mortem examination found this to be incorrect.  Betsi Cadwaladr health board apologised to Mr Cowen’s family for the delay in the investigation and for not keeping them rightly informed. Mr Cowen suffered with many medical conditions…

Baby girl dies following dog bite

Posted: 6 April 2014

Posted in: Animal Attacks, Head & Brain Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

An inquest has heard that a six-day-old baby girl died as a result of her family dog pulling her out of her pram and biting her.  It was found that she died of severe head injuries; a coroner ruled her death to be accidental.  Eliza-Mae Mullane, from Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire, was flown immediately to a hospital the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff following the attack in February, but could not be saved. Doctors pronounced her dead shortly after her arrival. Eliza-Mae’s father has warned parents of the potential danger of family…

Coalmine manager disregarded safety, causes death of four workers

Posted: 31 March 2014

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Following the deaths of four men in a coalmine accident, the manager responsible has been accused of completely disregarding their safety.  It was heard at Swansea Crown Court that the mine manager, Malcolm Fyfield, had been warned several times about the potential flooding of Gleison drift mine, but chose to take no action.  Four men lost their lives in the accident in 2011, three other workers survived, including the manager Mr Fyfield. It was heard that around 650,000 gallons of water swept through a sealed-off area of the mine, known…

Infection prevention failure caused baby deaths

Posted: 25 March 2014

Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The Health Watchdog has found that an E. coli outbreak at Swansea’s Singleton Hospital, which killed two babies, was most likely down to an infection control failure. The outbreak happened in November 2011, involving a mother, her two twins and another baby. All three babies and the twins’ mother were found to have the same EBSL strain of E. coli.  The neo-natal unit was closed for a month following the outbreak. All three babies were born premature on the 31st of October through a caesarean section operation, and all required…

Family blames doctors for death

Posted: 15 March 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence, NHS Claims, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The family of a man who died as a result of poor treatment has complained that the General Medical Council are refusing to take action against a number of the doctors responsible for his poor care, and subsequent death. 30-year-old Carl Nolan from Rhyl suffered from serious liver disease, which he was not informed of until 7 years after the tests were carried out. The family believes that not enough is being done by the GMC, who are refusing to provide them with any answers concerning Mr Nolan’s appalling treatment.…

Family call for inquiry of hospitals under a south Wales health board

Posted: 12 March 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The family of a pensioner who died after treatment at Singleton and Morriston hospitals in Swansea have requested that a full care review be carried out of all the hospitals under the control of the health board.  64-year-old Margaret Hoskins was treated in two hospitals under the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMUHB), which admitted that some aspects of her care had not up to the health board’s standards. Mrs Hoskins’ son-in-law, Graham Lucas, has demanded that a full care review be carried out across all of the health…

Baby death investigation continues in connection with family dog

Posted: 19 February 2014

Posted in: Animal Attacks, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Police have seized a dog from a house in Carmarthenshire as the investigation of a six-day-old’s death continues.  Eliza-Mae Mullane from Pontyberem was urgently flown to hospital on Tuesday having only been at home for a few days after her birth.  She was rushed to hospital in Cardiff where medical teams were unable to save her. An Alaskan Malamute was recently removed from the house, but the cause of the baby’s death is still unapparent. The dog was a household pet named Nisha and was taken home by Eliza-Mae’s mother’s…

Shorter 999 waiting time could have saved life

Posted: 22 January 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A coroner believes that 74-year-old Fred Pring could have survived his heart failure had ambulances arrived within the eight-minute waiting time target. Mr Pring had been lying on the floor for over forty minutes before he died. His wife had phoned the emergency services four times, after being told that the service was “too busy”, with her last call informing the service that they were “too late”, and that her husband had already died. Mr Pring suffered with heart and pulmonary disease for many years and was receiving treatment for chronic obstructive…

Deaf man treated as a dementia patient

Posted: 19 December 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Nurses at Abergavenny’s Nevill Hall Hosptial treated an 80-year-old man as a dementia patient because no one had noted that he was severely deaf.  A health watchdog also found that staff at the hospital decided not to inform Mr W that he had developed cancer, and fitted him with a catheter despite not being incontinent.  A deaf charity said that this is a common problem; despite NHS guidelines ensuring top-quality care for deaf and blind patients. The man, referred to as Mr W as family have chosen to remain anonymous,…

Report of medical negligence leaked

Posted: 15 December 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A document suggesting that poor heath care could have contributed to the death of a seven-year-old boy has leaked and been anonymously sent to his family.  Luke Jenkins, from Cardiff, had been in hospital for a heart operation and was expected to make a full recovery when he suffered a cardiac arrest and died shortly after. The document containing the information was sent to his family dated the 8th of May by an anonymous sender. Four investigations had been carried out by the hospital, Bristol Children’s Hospital, suggesting that staff…

Football club in court for health and safety breaches

Posted: 1 December 2013

Posted in: Public Place Accidents, Sporting Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Caersws Football Club is to attend court after a goalpost fell and killed a 12-year-old boy. Nine of the football club’s officials are due to attend the hearing at Mold Crown Court next year, having been accused of breaching health and safety regulations. 12-year-old Casey Breese had been playing football with friends when the incident occurred in July 2011.  One of the metal goalposts at the Caersws recreational ground fell and struck him: the injuries from which killed him.  Caersws Football Club, based near Newton in Powys, is to be prosecuted…

Hospital apologises for mother’s death after caesarean section

Posted: 9 November 2013

Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Elizabeth Maddocks died less than 24 hours after undergoing a caesarean section during the birth of her daughter.  Mrs Maddocks, from Wrexham, was not administered with blood-thinning medication for a prolonged period after the operation.  It took hospital staff 12 hours to provide her with the blood-thinning medication, resulting in her suffering deep vein thrombosis despite her frequent complaints of a swollen leg. Mrs Maddocks died at Wrexham Maelor Hospital in February of last year despite her multiple complaints to hospital staff.  An inquest concerning the death heard that Betsi…

Two experienced climbers fall to death

Posted: 31 October 2013

Posted in: Wrongful & Accidental Death

48-year-old Vaughan Holme and student Jack Hutton-Potts (23) had been climbing the Gauntlet at Gogarth cliffs this summer when they fell over 300ft to their deaths. Mr Holme, from Horsham in West Sussex, was a very experienced climber and was attached to his companion with a rope when he fell, bringing Mr Hutton-Potts down with him.  Their deaths have been recorded as accidental. When Mr Holme made an unknown error while climbing the Gogarth cliffs near Holyhead in Anglesey, Jack Hutton-Potts (from Petersfield in Hampshire) was pulled down the 300ft sea…

Football club faces charges over death of young boy

Posted: 8 October 2013

Posted in: Head & Brain Injuries, Public Place Accidents, Sporting Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Managers of a Powys football club have been accused of breaching health and safety laws after a goalpost fell and killed a 12-year-old boy.  Casey Breese from Powys had been playing with some friends on a Caersws recreational ground in July 2011, when a poorly secured metal goalpost fell and struck him on the head. The case, which was brought to court by the Powys County Council, has been adjourned without a plea to Mold Crown Court on the 18th of October. The club will be prosecuted under the Health…

GP out-of-hours criticised following death in Carmarthen

Posted: 29 August 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Negligent Cancer Diagnosis, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, Peter Tyndall, said that the outcome of an investigation in Hywel Dda Health Board’s service at West Wales Hospital revealed “fundamental failings”.  A lack of basic examination being carried out in the hospital resulted in the misdiagnosis of a patient and her later death.  Glenda Thomas (67) died as a result of these failures after being encouraged to visit her local out-of-hours GP service – run at the West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen – after she complained about the development of a rash…

Asbestos worker dies on last day of work at site

Posted: 6 August 2013

Posted in: Asbestos Exposure, School Accidents, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

James Paul (26) from Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent, died on his last day of work at a school where he had been removing asbestos, his family said.  He was electrocuted when working in a suspended ceiling space at Cwmcarn High School on the 19th of July. It is believed that Mr Paul suffered cardiac arrest due to the electrocution, Gwent Coroner David Bowen heard. Mr Paul was due to be married next year to his fiancé Emily Rogers (20), together with whom he had a toddler son, Kingsley.  A statement conveyed…

Safer roads requested for children in Wales

Posted: 24 July 2013

Posted in: Pedestrian Injuries, Road Traffic Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A large group of campaigners are demanding safer routes for children in Wales to walk to school. With figures showing that one third of pedestrian casualties in road accidents in Wales were children; people argue that something has to change. The latest Welsh Government’s statistics have revealed that 295 child pedestrians were injured or killed in road accidents, with one in four of them being children that were travelling to or from school.  In 2012, 53 children were killed or seriously injured in a road accident, which is a 35%…

Police officers remembered at National Memorial Arboretum service

Posted: 23 July 2013

Posted in: Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

As a convoy of police motorbikes headed the service of remembrance for lost members of the force this weekend, hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects.  Ten officers were mentioned on a roll of honour as they had fatally died within the past year; these officers included PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes, who were killed by Dale Cregan last September. The two Greater Manchester PCs, PC Bone and PC Hughes, were killed in a gun and grenade attack after they answered a bogus 999 call made by Cregan…

Two servicemen die in training exercise

Posted: 14 July 2013

Posted in: Armed Forces Injuries, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Two servicemen have tragically died after they took part in a training exercise in the Brecon Beacons in Powys. An investigation is currently underway to find the reasoning behind the deaths, but suspicion lies with the temperatures in which the men were training.  Another of the servicemen is currently in hospital in a critical condition following Saturday’s fatal incident.  Recorded as the hottest day in Wales so far this year, (the temperature stood at around 30C/86F in Powys) it is believed that the temperature played a large role in the…

Hospital criticised for risky operation

Posted: 18 April 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A hospital in Wales has been heavily criticised by the Public Services Ombudsman after a man died after having bowel surgery, reports the BBC. Seventy-year-old Allan King had undergone the surgery at the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend to relieve symptoms he suffered and to give him a better quality of life, but he died six days later. The ombudsman’s report found that the type of surgery carried out was too risky to be carried out just to relieve symptoms, and that Mr King had not had the risks fully…

Widower campaigns for greater asbestos awareness

Posted: 20 March 2013

Posted in: Asbestos Exposure, Mesothelioma, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A widower from Wales has called for greater awareness of the dangers of exposure to asbestos after his wife died from mesothelioma, reports the BBC. Eric Ward had worked as a fitter’s mate at a Welsh power station for over 20 years, where he was apparently exposed to asbestos fibres on a daily basis. His wife Valerie contracted mesothelioma after years of washing his work overalls, which were contaminated with the deadly fibres. She started to experience breathing difficulties around four years ago, and was diagnosed with asbestos-related mesothelioma in…

Landscape gardener crushed by 'unsafe' skip loader

Posted: 12 March 2013

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A self-employed businessman has been given a suspended jail sentence for supplying unsafe construction equipment that led to the death of a father-of-six who was working on a garden in Reigate, Surrey. Ken Pinkerton, a 47-year-old landscape gardener, was crushed-to-death when a one-tonne skip loader he was using tipped over onto its side. He had hired the loader, a type of dumper, along with a mini-digger from the self-employed businessman, who was prosecuted for serious safety failings at Guildford Crown Court. Key flaws identified by HSE with the skip loader…

Improving safety in the waste industry

Posted: 11 March 2013

Posted in: Workplace Injuries, Workplace Slip, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A landmark summit has recently taken place to discuss options for reducing the terrible toll of death, personal injury and ill health in the waste and recycling industry. The summit was organised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum, and brought together senior figures from key players in the industry. Waste and recycling remains dangerous According to the HSE, there has been a welcome general downward trend in the rate of injury in the waste and recycling sector, but it still…