**Tragic Death of 12-Year-Old Boy After Cardiac Arrest Prompts Inquest in Carmarthenshire**
A 12-year-old boy from Ammanford, identified as Harrison Michael Angell-Chapman, has sadly died after suffering a cardiac arrest while at a Carmarthenshire hospital. The circumstances surrounding his untimely death are now the focus of an inquest, which was formally opened at Llanelli Town Hall this week.
Harrison was initially brought to the accident and emergency department at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen on 6 May 2024. According to reports presented during the inquest, the young schoolboy arrived at hospital complaining of pain in his left shoulder and chest. In addition to these symptoms, he was said to be struggling with his breathing and had endured a protracted seizure lasting between 10 and 20 minutes.
Coroners’ officer Malcolm Thompson read a statement to the inquest, which provided a detailed timeline of events leading to Harrison’s collapse. Medical staff noted his heart was racing at an abnormally high rate and his blood pressure was also significantly elevated. Given his condition, Harrison was taken to an operating theatre where he was to be administered an induction gas, used for medical procedures.
It was while he was in the theatre that the situation suddenly took a turn for the worse. Harrison began coughing, and without warning, went into cardiac arrest. Responding swiftly, hospital personnel administered CPR and managed to restore his heartbeat after around eight to nine tense minutes. Despite their best efforts, Harrison sadly suffered a second cardiac arrest shortly afterwards.
The inquest heard that despite exhaustive resuscitation attempts, Harrison was pronounced dead at the hospital at 9.53pm on the same night. His sudden death has left his family, friends, and the local community in a state of profound shock and grief.
A post-mortem examination was carried out in the aftermath of the tragedy, with findings read to the court. The examination determined that the medical cause of death was myocarditis—an inflammation of the heart muscle—compounded by a respiratory tract infection. Both conditions can be serious in young people and, in rare instances, may combine to cause cardiac complications.
Assistant coroner for Carmarthenshire, Paul Bennett, has adjourned the inquest proceedings. A pre-inquest review hearing is scheduled for 12pm on Friday, 12 September, at Llanelli Town Hall, where further details may emerge as to the events preceding Harrison’s death. The review is expected to examine the clinical care provided, the sequence of medical interventions, and whether any additional factors contributed to the tragic outcome.
As investigations into this case continue, questions continue to circulate regarding the circumstances that led to such a rapid decline in Harrison’s health. The inquest process aims to provide the family with answers, and ensure any lessons that can be learned in the interests of patient safety are identified. The story has prompted an outpouring of condolences for the Angell-Chapman family, with many in the tight-knit Ammanford community expressing their sympathies.
Healthcare professionals are meanwhile reflecting on the importance of recognising the early signs of potentially life-threatening conditions such as myocarditis in young patients. Harrison’s death serves as a poignant reminder of the unpredictability of some rare medical emergencies, and the need for swift and decisive action in hospital settings.
Wales Online and local support networks will continue to follow developments in the case as the inquest proceeds later this year. The outcome of these proceedings will hopefully bring some measure of clarity to a family left devastated by the loss of a promising young life.