A COUPLE are demanding answers after their son collapsed and died after being sent home from hospital.

Victor Wyatt passed away after following complications when he suffered a twisted bowel two years ago.

His parents, Alan and Nicki, took their son to the GP after he started to complain of stomach pains and began vomiting.

The nine-year-old was referred to the children's unit at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth but was discharged a few hours after arriving, his parents claim.

A hospital report shows that medics believed he was suffering a stomach upset. But, later it was discovered he had a rare twisted bowel.

The next morning – around 12 hours later – Victor's parents woke up to find him suffering a cardiac arrest in his bedroom at home in the Paulsgrove area of the city.

While his siblings, Blake, who was seven, and Millie, who was two, and mum Nicki watched in horror as dad Alan gave his son CPR.

He died five days later, after being rushed back to hospital.

Two years later, the family has now been forced to abandon legal action.

A report into Victor's death carried out by the hospital concluded that a twisted intestine in a child is a very rare diagnosis.

And it added that his death in September 2017 could not have been prevented.

But Alan and Nicki claim staff did not carry out enough investigations, despite them telling medics they had a family history of bowel disease.

"We have lost our son and we are furious," he said. "The doctors did not take us seriously enough.

"I am deaf but it felt like the doctors were not listening to me when I was trying to tell them about our family's history of Crohn's disease."

After dialling 999, paramedics took Victor back to the Queen Alexandra before he was transferred to Southampton General Hospital.

There, Alan said doctors asked the couple why more tests and X-rays hadn't been carried out initially.

"They found the problem with his intestine and took him for surgery," he said.

But five days later, on September 27, 2017, Victor passed away after suffering severe brain damage during surgery.

Mum Nicki said: "I have lost my eldest son.

"My children watched him as he had an arrest and now they can't go in that room. None of us can.

"This house is a constant reminder of what has happened and we just want to move."

The couple said Victor had been back and forth to the hospital three times in 2015 and 2016, with bowel problems.

They said no inquest was held into their son's death, but said doctors confirmed his cause of death with them.

A serious investigation report was undertaken by the hospital.

Liz Rix, chief nurse at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "The loss of a child is a tragedy and our heartfelt condolences go to the family of Victor Wyatt and all those affected at this incredibly sad time.

"The care and safety of our patients is our absolute priority.

"We carried out an investigation into Victor’s care and treatment to identify and act on any areas for learning."

Dad Alan, who used to work at Co-Op and has since suffered a mini stroke, added: "This has been horrible for my family.

"Even though we could not live closer to QA, I would never trust them again."

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