Inquest Concludes 22-Year-Old's Hospital Death Was From Natural Causes
An inquest has heard that a 'precious' young woman died after she suddenly stopped breathing in hospital, with her life support machine switched off ten days later. Elyse Foster, aged 22, was fighting a rare cancer known as thymoma and had an autoimmune condition called myasthenia gravis.
Family Raises Concerns Over Hospital Care
Elyse's family, from Cheddleton in Staffordshire, believe more could have been done to save her and raised significant concerns during the inquest into her death. The former Westwood College student was in the Royal Stoke University Hospital's critical care unit following surgery to remove tumours on September 20, 2024.
She stopped breathing and suffered a cardiac arrest on October 7, with life support withdrawn on October 17. Her mother, Kirsty Tittensor, had stayed with her daughter overnight before leaving at 8.45am on October 7 for an appointment.
Dr Alison Evans visited Elyse at 10.20am and her observations were said to be normal. A short time later, Elyse went into cardiac arrest and vomit was found in her mouth. The inquest heard it was not known if Elyse had aspirated on the food she consumed or if she aspirated during CPR.
Family Believes Different Care Could Have Saved Her
Her family strongly believes that had she been seen by the speech and language therapy team and kept intubated instead of being given food, she would still be alive today. A statement from Kirsty and Elyse's grandmother Joy Tittensor read: "A nurse said around 9.30am Elyse vomited a little, so she cleaned her up and she went back to sleep. We as a family believe she vomited again, causing her to choke and stop breathing."
"She had been left on her own and we believe this led to her cardiac arrest. She stopped breathing but we don’t know how long for, the nurse was not there - why was she left alone? If someone had been there she would be alive, but now our precious, bright, beautiful daughter is dead."
The statement continued: "It had been the first time in two weeks she was given food orally, so why was no one with her? If someone had been there and had seen she couldn't breathe she would still be alive now. I have many notes from Elyse, which communicate about how she was feeling about being left alone, and how she was feeling generally about being in the hospital."
"The doctor did a review at 10.15am that day but she managed to be brain dead just 20 minutes later. Lessons need to be learned and policy changed, we cannot keep failing young people. There has to be accountability, we can never bring Elyse back but we believe we could save somebody else."
Medical Testimony and Coroner's Conclusion
Dr Evans, a cardiothoracic anaesthetist who worked with Elyse, three other doctors and a nurse agreed the reason for the aspiration was unknown. While Nick Coleman, a consultant at the same hospital trust, believed 'it’s likely she aspirated the food she had inadequately swallowed'.
Coroner Emma Serrano concluded that Elyse’s death was one of natural causes. She said: "The doctors I’ve relied on have all seen Elyse, but Mr Coleman had not seen her, and when I questioned him about his basis around stepping away from what the other doctors had said, I wasn't satisfied with the explanation he had given."
"I was satisfied with the explanation of the other four doctors. Whatever caused the cardiac arrest was a natural cause. I haven't heard any evidence suggesting anything was unnatural, for example, trauma or third-party intervention, and all the options put forward that could have led to cardiac arrest, such as vomiting, arrhythmia, or a lack of oxygen, are all natural."
"I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Elyse Joy Foster died on October 17, 2024, as a result of a natural cause." She added: "She was a young lady who suffered from myasthenia gravis and was diagnosed with a metastatic carcinoma. On October 7 she had an unwitnessed cardiac arrest."
"Five minutes prior her observations were in ranges not concerning, but when the nurse came back into the room Elyse was in cardiac arrest and CPR was given. Her circulation was restored but there was a lack of oxygen to the brain and caused injuries from which she wasn’t able to recover."
"We do not know what precisely caused the cardiac arrest but it was caused by a natural cause. Elyse died as a result of part one hypoxic ischemic enteropathy and aspirated pneumonia, part two metastatic carcinoma."
Elyse, known as the 'Queen of Snapchat', worked at Treetops Court Care Home and was studying to become a children's nurse at the time of her tragic death. Her family continues to advocate for changes in hospital policy to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
