Cricket star's daughter Bethan James would 'have likely survived' if medics had acted differently, inquest told
An expert witness said Bethan's cardiac arrest could have been avoided, and that she could have survived if it had been. Bethan is the daughter of former Glamorgan and England cricketer Steve James
Bethan, who died in 2020 aged 21, was the daughter of Glamorgan and England cricket star Steve James
A seriously unwell 21-year-old woman would have 'likely survived' if medics had acted appropriately sooner, an expert witness has told the coroner overseeing the inquest into her death.
Bethan James, the daughter of former Glamorgan and England cricketer Steve James, died on February 8, 2020, just a few hours after being admitted to the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff.
The ongoing inquest into her death, which began on Tuesday, June 3, at Pontypridd Coroner's Court, heard that she died of sepsis and pneumonia. Her illness was complicated by the immune suppressing effects of Crohn's disease, it was heard.
Budding journalist Bethan's dad, Steve, a highly respected sports journalist himself, was away covering Wales' Six Nations match in Ireland when his daughter was taken seriously ill.
Heartbreakingly, due to weather delays, he was unable to get home and see her before she died.
During the third day of the inquest on Thursday, June 5, coroner Patricia Morgan heard evidence from Dr Duncan Thomas who treated Bethan at hospital.
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He said he was surprised by how quickly her condition worsened when she was brought into UHW, and expressed 'frustration' that Ms James had not been brought to the resuscitation area – used for treating the most seriously ill patients – earlier.
However, he did not believe there was anything that could have been done to save her.
Dr Thomas said: 'I was, I think it's fair to say, astounded at how quickly Bethan was deteriorating.
'The rate of Bethan's deterioration was not something I had previously observed in someone of her age group, and, in my career, I have only ever seen it one more time.'
While Dr Thomas said the hospital should have received a 'pre-alert' from paramedics bringing Bethan to UHW, he did not believe it would have saved her life, with damage to multiple organs already present before she arrived.
'It's my belief that, unfortunately, Bethan would have died,' he said. 'Bethan's presentation and rate of deterioration were incredibly atypical of someone of her age group.'
Bethan James pictured celebrating her 21st birthday
Dr Thomas said Ms James' death had a 'profound' impact on him and other staff at the hospital, adding: 'I wish there was something I could have done'.
However, the inquest later heard from expert witness Dr Chris Danbury: an intensive care consultant at University Hospital Southampton and an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Southampton Medical School.
He disagreed with evidence heard earlier on Thursday, stating his view was that Bethan's cardiac arrest could have been avoided.
Ms Morgan asked him: 'Is it your evidence that if [Bethan] had been taken into the resus area [straight away] then a cardiac arrest could have been avoided?'
Dr Danbury replied: 'Yes. That's based on my experience. We have seen patients like this frequently. If you [act] aggressively when they come through the door you can avoid cardiac arrest.'
He further explained: 'Resus is a safe place…I have no problem with her staying in resus until a bed came available at [the intensive care unit]. Resus is the place she should be safe until she gets stabilised and is safe to move elsewhere in the hospital.'
Referring to Dr Danbury's pre-prepared report, Ms Morgan said: 'You say if she hadn't gone into cardiac arrest, in your view, she would have likely survived?' He responded: 'Yes.'
Responding to Dr Thomas's description of Bethan's presentation of 'atypical', Dr Danbury said: '[It is] something I have seen before and no doubt I will see it again.'
During the first day of the inquest on Tuesday it was heard how Bethan was 'dismissed' by a number of medics in the weeks that led up to her death.
On Wednesday the coroner heard from the ambulance crew who tended to Bethan and brought her to UWH. The paramedics agreed that A&E should have been warned that Bethan was on her way.
Speaking at the hearing on Tuesday, her heartbroken mother, Jane James, described Bethan as a 'caring' and 'beautiful' person who always put others before herself.
Diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2019 at the age of 20, Bethan documented her experience of the condition through a vlog and had hopes of becoming a journalist.
Mrs James said: 'As a person she never moaned, she never made a fuss. She was very caring. She was just beautiful.
'She put people before herself. She was more interested in other people and their stories and I think that's why she would have made a brilliant journalist.' The inquest continues.
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