BOY DIED FROM STROKE AGED JUST 17
EXPERT TELLS INQUEST TRAGEDY COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY TURN OF THE HEAD
A TEENAGE Army cadet died of a stroke after he collapsed at home while making tea for his family, an inquest heard.
Ben Littlewood, 17, didn’t drink or smoke but is feared to have turned his head quickly, causing an artery to tear and send a blood clot to his brain.
The youngster was found suffering a fatal seizure on the kitchen floor of his Dukinfield home after failing to answer his mother’s phone calls. He died in hospital eight days later.
Due to his age, doctors didn’t realise Ben had suffered a stroke until four days after he was admitted to intensive care.
One senior medic who carried out a brain scan on the teenager, later said he hadn’t come across a case like Ben’s in 12 years of treating patients.
At an inquest in Stockport, Ben’s mother Vicki Brocklehurst called for greater awareness and research into the cause of strokes.
The average age for a person’s first stroke is 68.
The inquest heard that Ben had been studying joinery and carpentry and was a lance corporal in the army cadets, and hoped to join the Territorial Army after qualifying at college.
Mrs Brocklehurst, a nursery worker, told the hearing: “He was a character, a little clumsy but he had the biggest heart and helped anybody. He was the best big brother, cousin, grandson and nephew.
“He lived at home with me, stepdad and sister and she turned three the day after Ben passed. “His tutor told him he was one of the best students he had had and he loved college. “There were no health problems and no concerns about drugs or alcohol.’’
She added: “I had a missed call from him which I saw when I came to check my phone at 5pm. I tried calling him back but never got a response.
‘’Normally he would call back and at least answer but it must have been about 20 minutes and I said to my colleagues, ‘I’m going to have to go home - something’s not quite right.’ I just had the feeling.”
Mrs Brocklehurst found her son lying on the kitchen floor.
Dr Christopher Douglass a consultant neurologist at Salford Royal Hospital said: ‘’It’s important to say nobody suspected a stroke and I have to say these kind of strokes are very unusual even in older patients.”
Tests concluded Ben died of a vertebral artery thrombosis or Ischaemic stroke.
Coroner Chris Morris recorded a narrative conclusion, saying Ben’s collapse was likely to be associated with sudden or extreme movement of the neck causing dissection of the relevant artery.
His tutor told him he was one of the best students he had had and he loved college
Mum Vicki Brocklehurst