‘It was as if my angel knew she was dying’

A 17-YEAR-OLD student described by her mother as an ‘angel’ died following acute heart failure.

An Oldham inquest heard yesterday how Roshni Panchani, of Manley Road, Coppice, died three days after complaining of a sore throat, abdominal pains and severe vomiting.

Roshni’s mother Hansa described her daughter as an angel, adding: “When she died I had a dream that Roshni left behind a personal diary. When I woke up I found it.

“It was wonderful. It contained general advice for us all — it was as if she knew she was going to die.”

The inquiry heard how Roshni was an outstanding student, who achieved 10 GCSE A-grades at Hathershaw School, and was studying A-level maths, mechanics, art and psychology at Oldham Sixth Form College. She hoped to become an architect.

Roshni woke feeling unwell on Monday, January 7, last year. Her condition deteriorated the next day, but after ,ailing to get a GP’s appointment, she was referred to the walk-in centre where blood was taken and antibiotics prescribed.

However, her condition worsened and on she collapsed the next day.

Roshni was taken to hospital, but died three hours later.

Roshni’s father, Harji, raised concerns that the ambulance arrived at their address just after 1am, but she wasn’t seen until 1.57am and he said he overheard a paramedic saying she should be taken to a hospital in Rochdale.

But consultant in emergency medicine, Dr Parswanath Sujit Kumar, who has since retired, said he didn’t know why such a discussion took place when the patient was from Oldham.

He said: “Roshni arrived much sooner than 1.57am but we would have taken her straight into resuscitation and this time would have been recorded later.

“She was registered at 1.57am but by that time she had already been treated.”

A post mortem examination found Roshni died of heart failure brought about by the viral infection.

Mr Kumar said it was only the second such case he had come across in his 23 years in the profession.

Coroner Simon Nelson, who recorded a verdict of natural causes, described Roshni as an inspirational young woman.

He said he was satisfied with the standard of care she received in hospital.