A "kind-hearted and gracious" university student died a few weeks after complaining about tiredness and migraines, an inquest has heard. Johnny Alfrey, 22, who suffered fatigue and vomiting had spoken to doctors about his health problems in the weeks leading up to his death.
He died on June 24, 2022. Despite tests revealing Johnny had an irregular heart rhythm and 'abnormal liver function', doctors could not explain his symptoms.
On Thursday January 5, an inquest at Rochdale Coroner’s Court heard that Johnny, from Littleborough, began feeling 'seriously unwell' in May of last year. As reported by Manchester Evening News, his mum Julie Alfrey told the hearing that her son began complaining of fatigue and said he was experiencing ‘heaviness in his legs’ when walking.
In the days that followed, she said he began vomiting and suffering migraines. The inquest was told that Johnny was also struggling to sleep or eat - symptoms he initially believed were the result of panic attacks.
Ms Alfrey said that while her son had experienced anxiety and panic attacks in the past, he knew how to control them. Becoming increasingly concerned, she took Johnny to an urgent treatment centre at Rochdale Infirmary on May 23.
However, he collapsed while waiting to be seen, she said. “He was wet with sweat and his lips were blue,” Ms Alfrey explained.
“I had to run to find somebody. He was slumped in his chair and they took him straight through.”
The inquest heard that Johnny was ‘put on a drip’ as doctors tried to figure out what was wrong with him.
Ms Alfrey said one doctor put Johnny’s symptoms down to alcohol withdrawal - a suggestion which she said left her son 'frustrated and upset'. She told the inquest he was not a heavy drinker but would 'sometimes have a drink at the football with friends' once or twice a week.
Tests carried out by doctors also uncovered that Johnny had an irregular heart rhythm. This is referred to as a prolonged QT, which medics said was ‘probably benign’ due to his age.
'He said he felt like he was going to die'
Johnny was referred to Fairfield Hospital for further assessment but, while waiting for an ambulance, Ms Alfrey said she noticed her son’s lips and fingers had ‘turned blue’. “I knew there was something wrong,” she said.
“He was changing colour. He said a couple of times that he felt like he was going to die.”
She told the inquest that Johnny was ‘encouraged to leave’ by a night nurse practitioner, who told him that if he went to the hospital he was ‘likely to be on a corridor overnight’.
She said the medic claimed to have spoken to someone at Fairfield, who had told him: “Don’t send him here, we are in a mess.” The inquest heard that an IT failure was impacting both Fairfield Hospital and Rochdale Infirmary at the time.
Johnny eventually attended A&E on May 25 - two days later - after he continued to feel unwell. Following further tests, Ms Alfrey said a doctor told her there was ‘nothing to worry about’ and put Johnny’s symptoms down to ‘a mental health issue’.
She explained: “He said to me, ‘This is anxiety, he is having panic attacks, we can’t treat anxiety here. You can’t bring him back with these symptoms'.”
Ms Alfrey added: “I was being fobbed off.” During a visit to Rochdale Infirmary three days later, doctors informed Johnny that blood tests revealed he had an 'abnormal liver function'.
He was again admitted to hospital before being discharged on May 31. Upon returning home, Ms Alfrey initially noticed a slight improvement in her son as he began trying to eat more and play video games and his guitar.
However, his condition deteriorated and his panic attacks returned, the inquest heard. “He couldn’t stand up,” said Ms Alfrey.
“He was screaming, ‘Help me, mum. Help me.
"What is wrong with me? I’m dying.”
Johnny died after his condition continued to worsen
Johnny’s father, Chris Charnley, said he became increasingly concerned by his son’s inability to eat or sleep. Johnny was admitted to hospital again on June 8.
This time, Ms Alfrey said doctors informed her that her son’s his liver had failed and ‘his kidneys had taken a hit’. Ms Alfrey said: “I think he knew he was dying, he kept saying ‘put me out of my misery'.”
Mr Charnley added: “He kept asking me if he was going to die. He just wanted to hold my hand, he wouldn’t let go.”
He said medical staff told him they were still ‘trying to get to the bottom’ of what was wrong with Johnny. The inquest heard that Johnny’s condition continued to worsen and he was transferred to Wythenshawe Hospital, where he died on June 24.
Dr Moataz Adnan, a consultant in emergency medicine at Fairfield Hospital, told the inquest that although doctors discovered that Johnny had an irregular heart rhythm, it was not believed to be linked to his symptoms. He added that while Johnny had complained of palpitations, they were not ‘abnormal’ and medics therefore put them down to anxiety.
However, Dr Adnan admitted that Johnny should have been seen by a cardiologist after an ECG carried out on May 30 showed his irregular heart rhythm had got worse. The focus at the time had instead been on Johnny’s liver function, he said.
Paying tribute to her son, Ms Alfrey described Johnny as ‘talented and clever’. “He was kind-hearted and gracious,” she added.
“He never had a bad word to say about anybody. He was looking forward to the rest of his life and had big plans.
“He was just a brilliant young man, so funny and a great big brother and a perfect son.” Mr Charnley told the inquest that he ‘could not have asked for a better son’.
“It’s easy to describe children as perfect but I would describe Johnny as a perfect son,” he said. “He was not just my son, he was my best friend.
“We shared so many interests, music being one. He was a very talented musician and played guitar, bass, drums and harmonica.”
The inquest continues today.
