**Tragic Loss of Three-Year-Old Sparks Inquest After Sepsis Misdiagnosis at Plymouth Hospital**
A heartbroken mother from Plymouth has shared her devastating experience of witnessing her three-year-old son’s final moments, after he tragically died from sepsis. The young boy, Theo Tuikubulau, had visited Derriford Hospital on two separate occasions over just 36 hours before succumbing to the condition. The harrowing account unfolded this week at Devon Coroner’s Court, where the circumstances leading to Theo’s passing have come under close scrutiny.
Theo’s final days were marked by an escalating illness that began with flu-like symptoms, a high temperature, and loss of appetite. His mother, Kayleigh Kenneford, explained how what initially appeared to be a common viral illness took a rapid and fatal turn. By 5 July, her son’s health had visibly deteriorated: he was weak, not eating or drinking, and a rash had emerged on his stomach. Observing her son’s lips becoming tinged with blue and his breathing becoming more laboured, Kayleigh’s concerns intensified.
After phoning emergency services following a spike in Theo’s temperature to 40.2C and severe breathing difficulties, the family rushed him to Derriford Hospital. Initially assessed at the children’s unit on the afternoon of 6 July, doctors suspected an upper respiratory tract infection. After observations and a brief stay, a different doctor’s examination later in the evening led to Theo being diagnosed with an ear infection. The clinician assured Kayleigh that antibiotics were unnecessary and that the illness would clear on its own, diverging from the initial assessment by another doctor in the Emergency Department.
Recounting the discharge in poignant detail to the court, Kayleigh admitted she trusted the medical advice but questioned why her obviously unwell child was being sent home. “I didn’t really understand why we couldn’t just stay there. The ward didn’t seem busy, and Theo just wanted to sleep,” she told the jury. With Theo restless and feverish overnight, Kayleigh said she tried to find comfort in the doctor’s words that it was normal for children to worsen before improving. In reality, Theo’s condition was becoming critical.
The mother’s growing unease led her to seek further help the following evening after an unsatisfactory telephone conversation with a nurse. Sensing her concerns were not being taken seriously, she called an ambulance again. Theo was readmitted to Derriford Hospital, but despite frantic emergency measures by hospital staff, he died in the early hours of 8 July. Both Kayleigh and Theo’s father, Royal Navy serviceman Joe Tuikubulau, could only watch as doctors fought to revive their son.
“They were working on Theo at the time. The same doctor who discharged Theo on the previous admissions came into the room to speak with us,” Kayleigh stated. She recalled the distressing moment when doctors admitted there was nothing more they could do and offered the parents the chance to say goodbye. “We went back into the room where Theo was and held his hand while they switched everything off.”
The inquest was told that the underlying cause of death was sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to infection, which had been precipitated by an “invasive” Group A Streptococcus infection, sometimes known as Strep A. The rapid progression of the illness led Kayleigh to question whether earlier intervention, including swabbing for Strep A, might have changed the outcome.
Sepsis remains a critical medical emergency, particularly challenging to diagnose in young children because early symptoms can mimic minor illnesses, such as the flu or even mild infections. Experts and campaigners continue to raise awareness of the need for vigilance, rapid recognition, and prompt treatment in suspected sepsis cases to prevent such devastating losses.
The inquest at County Hall in Exeter continues, with the jury expected to assess whether hospital protocols and clinical judgement adequately safeguarded Theo’s welfare. This heartbreaking case underscores broader concerns about paediatric assessments and the recognition of sepsis symptoms, prompting both a call for increased support for families and ongoing reflection within NHS systems to prevent similar tragedies.
As Theo’s family search for answers, the case has prompted renewed calls for clearer hospital guidance, improved communication with parents, and the importance of heeding parental instincts when a child appears seriously unwell. The community waits for the inquest’s findings, hopeful that its lessons will lead to enhanced patient safety and care for the most vulnerable.