The tragic death of a young amateur footballer has shed light on the severe consequences of medical misdiagnosis. Luke Abrahams, aged 20, succumbed to sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis—often referred to as a flesh-eating virus—at Northampton General Hospital on January 23, 2023. An inquest into his death revealed a series of missed opportunities by healthcare professionals who initially dismissed his symptoms as mere tonsillitis and sciatica.

In the days leading up to his untimely death, Luke had been experiencing a sore throat and sought medical attention from his general practitioner. The GP prescribed antibiotics, believing he was suffering from tonsillitis. However, as his condition deteriorated, Luke began experiencing severe leg pain and lost mobility, prompting him to seek further medical advice.

Just three days before his passing, Luke reached out to an out-of-hours medical service, where he was mistakenly diagnosed with sciatica. This misdiagnosis proved to be a crucial oversight, as his symptoms were indicative of a far more serious condition.

In a desperate attempt to alleviate his suffering, Luke’s family contacted emergency services 12 hours later when his pain became unbearable. Despite the presence of numerous “red flags,” the ambulance crew determined that hospitalization was unnecessary, a decision that would prove fatal.

This led him to contact an out-of-hours service three days before his death, only to be misdiagnosed with sciatica.

Just 12 hours later his family dialled 999 as he was in severe pain – but ambulance crews then decided he did not need to go to hospital despite numerous ‘red flags’.

Two days later, the railway engineer was rushed to hospital saying he ‘could not take the pain any longer’ – and died the following day.

A post mortem examination revealed he had been suffering from septicaemia, Lemierre syndrome – a form of bacterial infection – and necrotising fasciitis, a rare and life-threatening flesh-eating virus.

His death was initially recorded as natural causes and no inquest was opened.

Luke Abrahams, 20, passed away from sepsis and necrotising fasciitis at Northampton General Hospital on January 23, 2023 (Pictured: Mr Abrahams with his mother, Julie Needham)

A post mortem examination revealed the amateur footballer had been suffering from septicaemia, Lemierre syndrome – a form of bacterial infection – and necrotising fasciitis, a rare and life-threatening flesh-eating virus

But parents Richard Abrahams, 60, and Julie Needham, 49, fought for a formal investigation to be opened and believe a ‘catalogue of errors’ contributed to his death.

The couple, from Northampton, say medics missed a string of opportunities to potentially save their son as in the week he deteriorated, he had contact with multiple GPs, A&E, 111, and paramedics.

On the first day of the inquest yesterday an ambulance boss admitted Mr Abrahams should have been taken to hospital days before his death but was instead wrongly treated for sciatica.

Giving evidence, Susan Jevons, Head of Patient Safety at East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), said: ‘Luke should have been transferred to hospital on the 20th and he should not have been discharged at home.’

The inquest heard that Mr Abrahams had been unwell all week with tonsillitis and was largely immobile in bed with severe lower-leg pain.

When his condition failed to improve after being proscribed with antibiotics, he and his mother contacted NHS 111 again.

EMAS paramedics arrived at 4pm that afternoon and found him in severe pain and unable to mobilise.

Ms Jevons said the crew focused on sciatica and failed to properly consider infection, despite multiple ‘red flags’, including a high temperature.

Parents Richard Abrahams (pictured with Luke) and Julie Needham fought for a formal investigation to be opened and believe a ‘catalogue of errors’ contributed to their son’s death

Luke Abrahams with family Richard Abrahams, Julie Needham and younger brother Jake

Mr Abrahams also had a pain score of nine out of 10, raised heart rate, dark-coloured urine and significantly high blood sugar levels.

He was not diabetic but recorded a reading of 16, with 17 being the threshold for automatic referral to A&E, the inquest heard.

Ms Jevons added: ‘The blood sugar stood out the most for me. There was no reason his blood sugar levels should have been that high.’

Ms Jevons said a low warning score should not be used alone to judge how ill a patient is.

She said: ‘You should look at your patient – what is your patient telling you?’

The court heard a pain score of nine places a patient in the ‘red’ category, meaning they should be taken to hospital.

However, Mr Abrahams was recorded as ‘amber’ and the score was not challenged.

Ms Jevons said: ‘There wasn’t enough evidence to say he just had sciatica.’

She said the case led to additional training, including refresher training on sepsis, Lemierre’s syndrome and necrotising fasciitis.

Giving evidence, the out-of-hours doctor who wrongly diagnosed sciatica following a video consultation said he did not notice any ‘red flag’ symptoms.

Dr Olalowo Olaitan, who appeared via Zoom from Canada, was working as an out-of-hours GP for DHU Healthcare on behalf of NHS 111 at the time.

He said a video assessment was carried out as Mr Abrahams was in too much pain to attend the hospital in person and was struggling to get down the stairs at home.

He said the video call was used to assess the patient’s level of consciousness, communication and to look for red flag symptoms such as rashes or skin changes.

He said there were no visible signs of redness, rash or discolouration to suggest a serious infection like necrotising fasciitis.

He said: ‘There was just pain in the back, buttock and leg.’

Dr Olaitan said he offered stronger pain relief and prescribed naproxen, believing Luke was suffering from sciatica.

Asked why the throat infection was not explored further, he replied: ‘Based on the fact Luke said it was getting better and he was on antibiotics, I didn’t explore that further.’

He told the inquest his working diagnosis was sciatica alongside a throat infection and said he did not consider a connection between the two at the time.

Dr Olaitan also told the court he was unaware Mr Abrahams had contacted NHS 111 several times in the days before or he had attended hospital earlier that week.

He added: ‘Ideally, I always want to see my patients face to face.’

The inquest, being heard by assistant coroner Sophie Lomas at The Guildhall in Northampton, is expected to last three days.