- Jack Dunn, from Rhondda, South Wales, visited his GP with severe stomach pain
- He went to Royal Glamorgan Hospital but was sent home by staff with laxatives
- The teen was found dead in bed the next day after suffering from ketoacidosis
Jack Dunn, 17, was found dead in bed the day after he was sent home from hospital
A ‘fit and healthy’ teenager who was sent home from hospital after doctors said he had bad constipation was found dead in his bed 24 hours later.
Jack Dunn, 17, had visited his local GP after suffering severe stomach pains and was later sent to the A&E department at Royal Glamorgan Hospital in South Wales.
However, after a constipation scan the teen left the hospital with laxatives and was told to get a good night’s sleep.
Tragically, the next day he was found dead at home in Rhondda, South Wales, by his father, Keiron.
Jack died from a condition called ketoacidosis – an illness which causes a build up of acidity in the blood.
Mr Dunn said his son was in so much pain that he could ‘barely walk’ but doctors were ‘baffled’ to what was wrong with him.
He told the Mirror: ‘When Jack was finding it difficult to breathe the doctor thought it was probably anxiety because Jack was anxious about being in hospital.
‘Finding my son dead in his bed was the worst moment of my life. I believe Jack would be alive today if a few more simple tests had been carried out.’
Jack’s parents, Kieron and Claire Dunn, at their family home in Rhondda, South Wales
Jack died from a condition called ketoacidosis – an illness which causes a build up of acidity in the blood
A post-mortem report found Jack died of ketoacidosis following severe constipation.
Mr Dunn said that if his son had been given a glucose and salt saline drip he may be alive today.
Kieron said: ‘Jack’s white blood cell count was up so that was an indicator something was going on in his body that wasn’t right.
‘If they had tested him for ketones he would probably be alive today.’