Delay that killed our superfit lad
THE parents of a sporty teenager who was befriended by boxing champ Anthony Joshua believe delays at two NHS hospitals cost their son his life.
Brian Mpunga, 15, was rushed to hospital by his dad after he collapsed with a brain haemorrhage during a coaching session at his basketball club.
He was struggling to speak and complained of a headache.
But on arrival at London’s University College Hospital’s paediatric A&E his family claim it was 40 minutes before the youngster was assessed by a triage nurse – despite a 15-minute target.
They allege a nurse then sent Brian back to the waiting room, where he spent another hour untreated, sprawled across his dad Jeff’s lap.
Even when he saw a doctor his family say he wasn’t sent for a brain scan until more than five hours after his arrival at A&E.
During that time Brian’s brother Vinni, 14, overheard doctors asking Brian if he had taken drugs.
A scan later showed he had suffered a brain bleed.
Failed
The teenager collapsed again and fell unconscious while being loaded into an ambulance to be transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital. But at that hospital his family claim it was another two hours before doctors did a second brain scan, which this time showed a major bleed. Brian, of Highbury, North London, was rushed to surgery but never recovered. World heavyweight champ Joshua, 28, who met Brian a year earlier at a local barber’s, phoned to offer his support while Jeff and Brian’s mum Carlota were at the hospital bedside. Carlota, 50, said: “Jeff put the phone to Brian’s ear. Anthony introduced himself and told Brian he was thinking of him and hoped he got better.” But Brian didn’t pull through and died on December 21 after life support was switched off. Jeff, 54, a taxi driver, said: “He was a fit kid, never ill. Yet he could hardly stand up, speak or keep his eyes open. We knew something was not right and we feel let down by the doctors. “There was never any sense of urgency. He didn’t receive the best care. Both hospitals need to explain why there were so many delays in diagnosing.” The family are angry that doctors asked if Brian had been taking drugs. Carlota said: “He has never been near drugs.” The couple notified the local coroner and are fighting to have an inquest. Both hospitals offered condolences. University College Hospital said: “We are investigating and will take the family’s concerns fully into account.”