Ryleigh Hillcoat-Bee, a vibrant three-year-old, tragically passed away three months after being discharged from the hospital despite showing clear signs of a rare illness. Her parents, Caroline and Andrew, had taken her to A&E while on vacation in North Wales when she fell ill.
Ryleigh’s symptoms pointed to a severe muscle condition, rhabdomyolysis, but she was sent home without a proper diagnosis. Three months later, her parents rushed her back to the hospital due to breathing difficulties, and she suffered a heart attack, leading to her devastating death on November 8, 2021.
The coroner’s inquest revealed “missed opportunities” by medical professionals to investigate Ryleigh’s condition before discharge. A medical negligence lawyer, Diane Rostron, stated that specialist advice from a neuromuscular specialist could have led to a timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Ryleigh’s parents expressed their heartbreak and frustration, stating that they were told their daughter would recover quickly, without being informed of her actual condition. They believe that Ryleigh’s death could have been prevented and are pursuing a medical negligence claim.
The hospital trust’s president, Chris Barben, offered condolences and assured that they would carefully consider the coroner’s findings to learn from the incident and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
In memory of Ryleigh, her aunt, Katie Hobbs, organized a charity event and ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon, raising over £3,000 for The Compassionate Friends, a charity that supported Ryleigh’s parents through their grief. Ryleigh’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of timely and accurate diagnoses in medical care.