A mum has paid tribute to her "loveable son who would always light up the room" after he died suddenly with a heart condition in a secure children's home. An inquest held at Swansea’s Guildhall into the death of Aaron Dylan James heard how he died at Hillside Secure Children’s Home in Neath on February 24, 2017. He was 17.
Weeks before his death Aaron had been taken to Morriston Hospital in Swansea after having a seizure before he was later able to return to Hillside. After he returned he was due to receive physical welfare checks every 15 minutes within his room and was meant to be checked on through an observation panel looking into his room every three minutes. But it was heard how there had been concerns among care officers that carrying out physical checks every 15 minutes would have caused him sleep deprivation and so the plan was changed. Aaron was later found unresponsive in his room and the fire and ambulance service were called to his aid. But despite efforts he could not be saved.
A review of CCTV footage later showed that observations through his window every three minutes had not been completed despite a written report stating they had been. Assistant coroner Kirsten Heaven told the inquest the central question was whether there was a failure to conduct observations on Aaron. A statement was read on behalf of Aaron’s mum, Claire Louise Walters, which described how he had been born in Bridgend and attended Cynffig Comprehensive School. He had passions for fishing and motorcross and his mum would regularly take him to watch car shows. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.
A statement read on behalf of Aaron’s dad, John James, heard how his son had a bubbly personality and would enjoy art and PE at school and was a “good kid who preferred to stay in and watch TV and play Xbox.” He added: “He went to Hillside unit in Neath and a few weeks before his death I was informed he went to hospital after having a seizure. I was going to visit him but later I was told he was back at Hillside. Aaron said he blanked out and had memory loss. On Saturday, February 25, I had police at my doorstep saying that Aaron had passed away.”
Pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbeatter said Aaron had experienced lymphocytic myocarditis, which is a rare form of myocarditis that can result in hospitalisation for acute care. It occurs when white blood cells, called lymphocytes, enter and cause inflammation of the heart muscle. A statement read out on behalf of Alison Davies, principal manager at Hillside, heard how Aaron’s passing had a “significant impact on staff and residents”.
She said all aspects of operations had been scrutinised in the weeks and years which followed with changes and improvements implemented as a direct result of investigations which were carried out into the incident. It added: “Aaron is remembered with great affection and a celebration of his life was held in 2017. There is a commemorative tree and plaque at the centre.”
Returning her findings Ms Heaven said the medical cause of death was lymphocytic myocarditis and her conclusion was death by natural causes. She said: "He was found unresponsive in his room at Hillside Secure Children's Home. Aaron should have been looked at every three minutes to ensure his safety and wellbeing. Staff were unsure about the frequency of the checks but didn't do them when they should have done and falsified reports of checks."
After the inquest Ms Walters paid a heartfelt tribute to her son. She said: "He was a real character and really funny. He was always clowning about and was an adrenaline junkie. He love fishing, jet skiing, and motorcars. Everything that boy ever wanted he had. One birthday he wanted a parrot and we went everywhere to get him a parrot, travelling here, there, and everywhere, only to realise later it was a toy parrot.
"He was a loveable character and would always light up the room. It's been terrible for us. We've been waiting for the inquest for six years and haven't been able to close a book on it. We'll never get over what has happened but there has been no closure. It's horrible. Something will always remind me of Aaron. We have got other children and I'll get messages of 'Happy Mother's Day'. But there's always that one message I wish I could get.
"I think the changes that have been made are too little too late. If they have got a child in their care their duty of care is to keep up the inspection requirements and if they have got a child who is ill there should be a camera on them 24/7. if you know someone is susceptible it should have been a case of monitoring. Aaron will always be remembered as a cheeky character and full of charisma. He was a true mammy's boy." Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news.
