Grief as Paul dies without loved ones

A grieving family have launched a complaint after a 21-year-old muscular dystrophy sufferer “died without dignity” after having four heart attacks in an hour.

Paul Fitton, of Landsdowne Road, Chadderton, died at the Royal Oldham Hospital on September 6 last year.

The family are angry because they were not aware of how bad Paul’s condition was. They left the hospital only minutes before he suffered his first heart attack and by the time they got back to his bedside it was already too late.

His aunt, Lynn Gee, said: “We feel Paul died without dignity because he was all on his own.

“If tests had been carried out sooner at least we would have known the score and we could have been around his bedside as he passed away.

“We didn’t get to say goodbye. I know it wouldn’t have prolonged his life but at least he would have had us there with him.”

A post mortem examination revealed he died of dilated cardiomyopathy, where the heart becomes enlarged and stops working properly, which is common with sufferers of the hereditary muscle weakening disease.

Paul’s uncle, Ken Fitton, died in exactly the same way 10 years ago. His uncle Peter (53) and brothers Matthew (26) and Simon (24) all suffer from muscular dystrophy.

Paul’s family held two funerals for him — one for his body straight after his death and one for his heart once all pathological tests were complete in February.

The avid Manchester United fan began to feel unwell about eight weeks prior to his death and was admitted to hospital on August 30 but discharged a few days later after doctors saw an improvement.

Five days later, Paul was back in hospital after his condition deteriorated and a heart scan was performed only hours before he suffered the first of four cardiac arrests.

While the family accept that nothing could have been done to save Paul’s life they are angry that doctors only carried out a heart scan on the day of his death.

Paul’s family have lodged a formal complaint with Pennine Acute Trust, which runs the hospital, and the case has now been passed to the Ombudsman.

Oldham Coroner Simon Nelson, who ruled out neglect, gave a verdict of natural causes telling Paul’s family they should always be proud of his determination to overcome every obstacle thrown at him.

Mrs Gee added: “Paul was a fantastic lad who never let his illness get him down.

“His death came as a massive shock and we will always regret his lack of dignity in death but now the inquest is over we can finally be sure that Paul is resting in peace.”