Stourbridge College student, 18, died days after scan all-clear

Laura Pincher was rushed to Russells Hall Hospital on October 28 last year after collapsing at her home in Stourbridge.

Medics battled for nearly an hour to save her life but were unable to revive her.

Dudley Coroners Court yesterday heard Laura, a student at Stourbridge College, had died from a blood clot in her lungs as a consequence of deep vein thrombosis caused by morbid obesity.

Assistant coroner for the Black Country Mr Angus Smillie heard the 18-year-old, of Hadcroft Grange, had visited Three Villages Medical Practice, in Stourbridge, on October 21 complaining of pain in her left calf. She was immediately referred to Russells Hall Hospital's deep vein thrombosis service and underwent blood tests and an assessment on the same day.

The inquest was told results of the blood tests had not been available when the service closed for the day and the process was completed by the Emergency Assessment Unit later in the evening. Laura was given an appointment to undergo a scan to check for a clot in her leg the next day. Dr Anthony D'Sa, a specialist in radiology at the hospital, carried out the ultrasound scan along with a trainee.

He told the inquest it had been 'a difficult scan' but was satisfied they had gained the information needed and no signs of a clot were detected.

"The evidence of the scan did not lead us to accept there was a clot present," he said. The inquest was told Laura had visited GP Dr Jonathan Tatton, at Three Villages, the following day who had looked at alternative causes for her leg pain.

He told the inquest as the test for a blood clot had only been carried out the day before he had not believed sending Laura for another scan would be an appropriate step. National guidelines say at least seven days should elapse before another test is considered.

The inquest was told on October 28, Laura had been taken ill and was having difficulty breathing. She had gone to the walk-in centre at Holly Hall, Dudley. Her oxygen level was low but after treatment her condition improved. However later in the evening she collapsed.

Following the evidence Mr Smillie recorded a conclusion of death by natural causes.But Laura's heartbroken family said they were not satisfied with the conclusion and planned to take matters further.