The family of a 20-year-old doorman found dead in his bed the day after he had finished his first shift have said they feel “let down” by the NHS.
Michael Anderson, of Arbour Way, Norton, died of natural causes in January due to a heart condition.
His father, Kevin is upset it took almost three months for Michael’s heart to be returned to the family so it could be buried with him, instead of the four to six weeks they were told.
He also believes his son’s condition may have been discovered sooner had tests been carried out when Michael collapsed 10 years earlier.
Speaking at an inquest into Michael’s death, held at Scarborough County Court, Mr Anderson senior said: “We feel we have been let down by the NHS for these reasons.”
Mr Anderson said he was referred to a specialist at Scarborough Hospital after Michael had collapsed at a party when he was aged 10.
“When we arrived the specialist said he couldn’t understand why we’d brought him there – he didn’t do a single test,” Mr Anderson said. “He may have noticed the problems.”
Michael, who was 6ft 9in tall, achieved a long-held dream when he earned his Security Industry Authority badge and became a licensed doorman a day before starting work at The King’s Head, Malton.
the former Norton College pupil, who had a passion for York City, American sports and computers, was helping to develop a career by finding further work in the security industry.
Dr Leslie Davidson, a pathologist at St James’ Hospital in Leeds, said Michael’s heart was found to be twice as large as would normally be expected.
The inquest was told the condition could be hereditary and there was a strong family history of collapse and unexpected death.
Mr Anderson said: “Michael was a grand lad who had never done drugs and didn’t have a criminal record. He would help anyone. He helped people out for nothing.
“I have been a socialist all my life and a big believer in the NHS. Now, because of the way the NHS has treated my family I have no faith at all. I don’t know what to believe now. I don’t want any family to go through what we have been through.”
Coroner Michael Oakley said he had lost a relative in similar circumstances and praised the family for approaching the Cardiac Risk in the Young charity.
Recording a verdict of death by natural causes, Mr Oakley said: “Obviously it was a rare condition from which Michael suffered.
“Whether or not it would have been picked up, it is hard to say.”
