1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,999 LESLEY SHARP: Death is rarely the end of the story. 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:11,320 For Dr Richard Shepherd, it's where the story begins. 3 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:15,239 CALL HANDLER: Ambulance service. Is the patient breathing? 4 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:18,039 His work has taken him from the headlines... 5 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:20,919 Human remains had been found that morning. 6 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:23,479 ...to the cases that never made the news. 7 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,199 Someone's lost a brother. Someone's lost a relative. 8 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:28,359 There are a whole series of questions 9 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,119 why someone died so suddenly. 10 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:35,239 He just was here one minute and then gone the next. 11 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,639 Every investigation begins with the evidence. 12 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:39,999 We take a sample from the blood. 13 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,879 Each conclusion must then be tested and challenged... 14 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:44,279 What if, what if, what if? 15 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,319 ...because the first answer is rarely the right one. 16 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:49,719 I was able to ensure there was no criminality 17 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:50,879 associated with the death. 18 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:54,360 The heart simply stopped. 19 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:01,199 Every case asks two questions - how and why? 20 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:04,239 We wanted to get the record set straight 21 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:05,679 and the facts to be right. 22 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:07,239 The body answers the first. 23 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:10,400 Science must answer the rest. 24 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:28,560 LORRAINE NICHOLLS: Monday was his day off college. 25 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,359 And I got up for work, got ready. 26 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:33,680 And I went into his room... 27 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:39,919 ...and I... I just had a compulsion to drop a kiss on his forehead. 28 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:41,599 And I don't know why. 29 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,479 And then I thought, no, I'm not gonna do that. 30 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:44,799 I'll wake him up, and he'll say, 31 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,079 "Oh, what are you doing, Mother?" You know. So I didn't. 32 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,239 But I had this really strange feeling. 33 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:53,599 And I went off to work, and I left him a job list in the kitchen. 34 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:55,439 And then about ten o'clock, I thought, 35 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:56,920 I better make sure he's got up. 36 00:01:58,160 --> 00:01:59,279 So I rang him. 37 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,280 PHONE RINGS 38 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:04,559 And I tried him a few times. 39 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:08,039 Then I think 11-ish, I rang my youngest daughter, 40 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:10,639 who wasn't at work, and I said, 41 00:02:10,640 --> 00:02:13,639 "Can you please go and check on Daniel? I'm a bit concerned. 42 00:02:13,640 --> 00:02:16,400 "He's not answering his phone, and he needs to be out of bed." 43 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,279 LEANNE CLARKE: I was out and about in Chorley, and my mum rang me. 44 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,959 And she basically said, 45 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:26,719 "Will you go to our house and wake Daniel up? 46 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:29,560 "I can't bloody get hold of him." That is literally how she said it. 47 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:33,879 I just assumed that he'd be in bed. 48 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,279 You know, he was a typical teenage boy 49 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:38,999 who was up till daft o'clock in the morning playing on his Xbox. 50 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,519 So, yeah, I wasn't worried. I wasn't panicking. 51 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:46,880 Erm, just assumed he was being a lazy... a lazy monkey, still in bed. 52 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,599 16-year-old college student Danny Nicholls 53 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:58,040 is the youngest of Eric and Lorraine's three children. 54 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:04,399 'We were both in our thirties when Daniel came along, 55 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:06,600 'and our daughters were at high school.' 56 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:13,119 I just... I just came off the pill to have a little rest 57 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,679 and somehow managed to get caught. 58 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:19,039 Erm... and I think it was a bit of a shock, 59 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,479 but best thing that ever happened to us, wasn't it? 60 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:22,760 Yeah, yeah. 61 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:30,399 ERIC: To me, he was the... the son what every dad wants. 62 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,559 A little son, you know? Little baby boy. 63 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:36,159 He were... He were just... Our little prince. 64 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,040 Yeah. Cos that's what we used to call him, our little prince. 65 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,359 And I think having two older daughters 66 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,999 and having this precious little boy, 67 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:49,119 he was the last cog in our little family wheel. 68 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:51,639 'We all... We just loved him so much.' 69 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:53,960 DANIEL BABBLES 70 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,560 LEANNE: So, I've drove up to the house, got out the car. 71 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:08,519 Knocked on the back door, cos I didn't have a key on me. 72 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:10,679 So I was knocking, knocking. 73 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:12,800 Shouted him, ringing him, nothing. 74 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,759 Came to the window, and he was lied on the floor 75 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:22,560 across the sofa in his dressing gown. 76 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:27,079 I was just panicking, screaming, shouting his name 77 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:29,599 and then realised that he really wasn't responding. 78 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:34,760 TEARFULLY: So I had to go and get... get my phone and call 999. 79 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:39,080 CALL HANDLER: 80 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,360 SIREN WAILS 81 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:56,079 GARETH BARNES: 'This was a 16-year-old not responsive. 82 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:58,639 'And I'm thinking, what has caused this? 83 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,159 'Is it a medical event? Is it a traumatic event? 84 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,240 'Is there sort of any substances involved?' 85 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,519 I can see Danny's sister Leanne is outside, 86 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:11,000 and she's very upset and distressed. 87 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:17,159 Through the lounge window, I can see Danny is on the floor, unresponsive. 88 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,039 Myself and a passer-by break the door down, 89 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:24,279 and I find Danny lying in the living room floor by the Christmas tree. 90 00:05:24,280 --> 00:05:27,159 And that's an image that I vividly remember 91 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:29,640 and have remembered throughout these years. 92 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:37,479 The phone rang, Leanne rang me, 93 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:40,319 and she just said, "Mum, come home. He's collapsed." 94 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,279 So I just got in the car, 95 00:05:43,280 --> 00:05:46,320 and I drove like I've never drove before. 96 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:49,120 But I knew. 97 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:52,199 And I immediately assessed Danny. 98 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:54,959 He wasn't breathing, his pupils are fixed and dilated, 99 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,599 and he was quite cold to touch. 100 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,439 At that point, I know that Danny's beyond any help 101 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:03,720 that I'd be able to offer him, and he had sadly died. 102 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:13,239 When I pulled in the street, there was people everywhere. 103 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:17,760 And I ran into the lounge, and he... he was on the floor. 104 00:06:18,840 --> 00:06:20,759 And his... 105 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:22,999 his-his hand was behind his head. 106 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,519 It looked like he'd just laid down and gone to sleep. 107 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:30,719 And I kept saying, "Daniel, wake up, it's Mum. Wake up!" 108 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:32,520 And, of course, he didn't. 109 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:36,559 Came in and... 110 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:40,799 I sat on the floor... with him, 111 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,560 and I put his head on my lap. 112 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:46,000 And I think I was there... 113 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,800 Well, I think... I think it was about an hour... 114 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:52,040 ...just talking to him. 115 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,559 Leading pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd 116 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,559 has overseen more than 20,000 autopsies 117 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,160 in a career spanning 40 years. 118 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:17,159 When a seemingly healthy teenager collapses at home, 119 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,759 we have to look really deeply 120 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,559 and understand very clearly what has happened. 121 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:25,639 I mean, could this be a medical condition? 122 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:29,839 Could he have a congenital abnormality that's caused his death? 123 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:31,879 Could he have had some trauma, 124 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:36,199 or could he have taken some substance that's caused his death? 125 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,599 All of these things are crucial 126 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:43,440 in investigating the death of such a young individual. 127 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:52,879 LORRAINE: I'd gone out to work in the morning 128 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:57,199 to a very happy, healthy 16-year-old, still in bed. 129 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:01,479 I just couldn't understand why he'd just stopped breathing, 130 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,120 just... just like that. 131 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:17,199 LOUISE: He was really affectionate, wasn't he? 132 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:18,239 LEANNE: Yeah. 133 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,519 Like, he was really cuddly with me and Leanne. 134 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:23,159 Leanne and Louise were both teenagers 135 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:26,239 when their baby brother, Danny, was born. 136 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:29,239 I guess he brought, like, our childhoods back, almost, 137 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,759 because when a little person arrives in your lives, 138 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:34,679 you get all that kind of noise and that laughter 139 00:08:34,680 --> 00:08:36,879 and that excitement at Christmas again. 140 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:38,999 And birthdays. Yeah. 141 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:42,040 He was just a loveable little boy. He really was. 142 00:08:43,680 --> 00:08:44,919 And I think that one is, like, 143 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:47,639 it's probably the last picture we had of him. It's the last picture. 144 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:48,800 Before he passed away, yeah. 145 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,199 He had had a cold two weeks previously, 146 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:55,959 but that was a few weeks ago. 147 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,719 We all get colds, and he'd gotten over it, 148 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:00,279 so there didn't seem to be any problem. 149 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:04,160 He seemed to be a normal, healthy 16-year-old boy. 150 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:09,239 What we know was he actually got up, come down. 151 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:10,959 He must have come in here. 152 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:12,399 I don't even know if the TV was on, 153 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:16,999 but obviously lied down on the settee, probably to watch TV. 154 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:21,559 And then whatever's triggered what happened, it's... 155 00:09:21,560 --> 00:09:25,720 it's more than likely made him roll off the settee onto the floor. 156 00:09:31,560 --> 00:09:34,439 GRAHAM HILL: About 25 past two in the afternoon, 157 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:37,279 I was made aware of a call into the police station 158 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:39,319 that a 16-year-old boy had been found deceased 159 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:40,880 at his home address in Chorley. 160 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:47,199 Danny's sudden death requires an initial investigation by the police 161 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:51,359 to gather information and evidence from the scene. 162 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,039 First thing to do is task some of my staff with doing all the... 163 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,279 the background checks on the address. 164 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,319 The individual, the family, are they known to the police? 165 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:01,240 Are they known to social services? 166 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,000 In Danny's case, it was all... it was all negative. 167 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,599 So when I arrive at the address, his mum's there, obviously, 168 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:15,479 in shock, in disbelief. 169 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:19,399 I suppose, in some ways, you're able to offer that reassurance 170 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,240 to try and find out why this has happened. 171 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:26,519 But also, you know, I've gotta ask questions, some... 172 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:28,599 some difficult questions as well, you know? 173 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,359 Was he into drugs? Did he drink? Did he smoke? 174 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:33,439 What was his lifestyle? 175 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:35,439 What was his mental health condition at the time? 176 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,399 Because, you know, that may have explained 177 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:41,000 if he had intentionally taken his own life. 178 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:46,879 I suppose they look for all sorts of things, like drugs, 179 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:48,519 but he didn't do anything like that. 180 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:51,120 As far as I was aware, there was nothing wrong with him. 181 00:10:53,680 --> 00:10:55,319 After physically checking the body, 182 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:57,119 there was nothing apparent on the body 183 00:10:57,120 --> 00:10:59,799 as to what may have caused his death. 184 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:01,919 Also checked Danny's bedroom, 185 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:03,919 just in case there were any indications 186 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:07,879 of anything that may have happened before he passed away in the lounge. 187 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,039 Having done everything that I needed to do, 188 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:14,720 I was able to rule out criminality, foul play, third-party involvement. 189 00:11:16,680 --> 00:11:19,359 But I also didn't have a tangible explanation 190 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:20,999 as to why Danny had died, 191 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,600 and it would now pass over to pathology. 192 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:29,519 As part of the investigation, Danny's medical records are checked 193 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:34,880 for any pre-existing conditions that could explain his untimely death. 194 00:11:38,560 --> 00:11:40,679 DR KEVIN TIPPER: All of the times that we've seen him 195 00:11:40,680 --> 00:11:43,959 were for very trivial minor illness, minor injury. 196 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:46,759 Looking through Danny's case notes here, 197 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:48,519 there's absolutely nothing in here 198 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:50,999 that would suggest any cause for concern. 199 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,479 In a teenager, the symptoms that would concern me 200 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,919 would typically be fainting or collapse, 201 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:01,719 maybe chest pain, particularly chest pain on exertion, 202 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:07,879 shortness of breath on exertion as well or palpitations, 203 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:10,960 and Danny certainly didn't have any of these symptoms at any point. 204 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,599 We would then look towards the family history, 205 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:18,959 but there certainly didn't appear to be anything at all 206 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:21,199 that ran through Danny's family. 207 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:23,799 I've been doing this job for 18 years, 208 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:25,079 and this is the one and only time 209 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:27,640 I've ever had a young patient die suddenly. 210 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:33,399 A seemingly healthy teenager, a stable, loving home, 211 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:36,079 nothing found at the scene to give us a cause of death 212 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:38,399 or even a probable cause of death. 213 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:42,719 There's no evidence of any third-party involvement, 214 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:44,759 and investigations have also shown 215 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:48,159 there's no knowledge of any pre-existing diseases. 216 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,719 There needs to be a postmortem examination 217 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:54,319 to see if there's any evidence 218 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:58,760 of something that has gone wrong inside Danny's body. 219 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:05,519 And we need to answer three basic questions. 220 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:08,119 Is there any evidence of trauma? 221 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:11,599 Is there any evidence of pre-existing disease 222 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:13,799 of the heart or the lung or the brains, 223 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:19,719 and is there any evidence of alcohol, drugs or toxins? 224 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:25,839 Each of these possibilities must be examined systematically, one by one, 225 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:28,720 and ruled in or out. 226 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,359 At Royal Preston Hospital, 227 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:45,119 69-year-old Margaret Charnley has been rushed into intensive care 228 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:46,920 after a fall at home. 229 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:52,199 ALAN CHARNLEY: This is actually where she fell. 230 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,399 I was downstairs making sandwiches and tea, 231 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:57,239 and all I heard was a bang. 232 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,999 And, er... her head was here, 233 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:04,840 and her legs was going down these, with this... wrapped round her legs. 234 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,919 Nobody can believe how much damage she did to herself 235 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,559 just putting that Christmas tree box away. 236 00:14:16,560 --> 00:14:20,559 999 right away as I got to her. 237 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:24,560 So then I carried her to the best of my ability... 238 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:28,520 ...down here. 239 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:34,519 And I laid her down, then I was giving her CPR here. 240 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:37,960 I just thought she were knocked out, but obviously, she wasn't breathing. 241 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:49,319 You all right, Margaret? 242 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:51,559 Margaret is unresponsive 243 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:55,199 and has now been on life support for two days. 244 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,119 55%. 245 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,519 Has that been creeping up again over the morning? 246 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,279 It's just the past, like, half an hour. 247 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:03,879 'Margaret had a cardiac arrest.' 248 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:07,159 Her heart stopped beating, and she stopped breathing. 249 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,119 And it takes probably about three minutes after your heart has stopped 250 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:14,240 before your brain starts showing the effects of being starved of oxygen. 251 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:18,039 ALAN: Margaret was loving to everybody. 252 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,599 She'd help anybody out who she could help out. 253 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:24,319 She loved going to different places, different cultures. 254 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:27,159 Margaret had the international caps for shopping. 255 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,439 She loved her shopping. 256 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:32,280 Just a-a... a all-round good egg, really. 257 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,999 DR ROBERTS: 'We've been observing Margaret now for the last 48 hours, 258 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:42,799 'and, sadly, Margaret is not going to recover from this state.' 259 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,479 This is now likely to be her long-term prognosis. 260 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:47,519 MACHINE BEEPS 261 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:48,879 'They spelt it out to us.' 262 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:50,879 The best scenario, if she came round, 263 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:55,279 she would be, er... brain damaged and paralysed. 264 00:15:55,280 --> 00:16:00,399 And the specialist said they didn't think she'd come round at all, 265 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:05,679 and any decision that had to be made would be made by them. 266 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:07,599 I wouldn't have to make that decision. 267 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:09,839 I'm grateful for that, really, 268 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:13,760 cos I don't know how I could have said, "Knock that machine off." 269 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:21,759 Although Margaret won't recover from her injuries, 270 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:23,839 she is technically still alive, 271 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:27,919 making her an ideal candidate for organ donation. 272 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:30,359 'We didn't know she'd put herself on the register. 273 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:32,479 'She did it in 2008.' 274 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:33,799 We feel better for it. 275 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:35,439 MARC: Yeah, it's what my mum would want. 276 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:37,759 PAUL: It's a decision she'd already made, so... Oh, yeah. 277 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:40,840 My mum being my mum, she'd do anything to help anybody. Yeah. 278 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:46,639 When a family wants to donate the organs of a loved one after death, 279 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:47,839 then, generally speaking, 280 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,840 the permission of the coroner must be obtained. 281 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:59,279 With families like yourselves that are supporting your mum's decision, 282 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:02,039 you know, it's amazing, it is. 283 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:05,599 She's incredible, and you should all be so proud of what she's done 284 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:08,079 by putting herself forward on the register. So far, yeah. 285 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:09,800 And really... Let's hope it goes through. 286 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:14,359 As long as the coroner's happy that the death has occurred naturally 287 00:17:14,360 --> 00:17:17,559 or there's no suspicious circumstances, 288 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,519 then he'll be happy for donation to go ahead. 289 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:22,520 MACHINE BEEPS 290 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:34,359 In the days following 16-year-old Danny's death, 291 00:17:34,360 --> 00:17:37,919 his family are struggling to come to terms with their loss 292 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:40,399 as they wait for answers. 293 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:43,399 The following two weeks, 294 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:45,160 I think I was... I was like a zombie. 295 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:51,280 It was just sit, exist, sleep. That was it. 296 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,039 I can just remember my mum hugging Daniel's dressing gown 297 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:57,360 and literally just rocking. 298 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:02,600 TEARFULLY: And she did that for days, days and days. 299 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,159 I couldn't function at all. 300 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,359 I felt like I'd lost a limb. 301 00:18:09,360 --> 00:18:11,959 Our parents changed, you know, on that day. 302 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:14,559 When they say it rips a hole in the family unit, 303 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:16,599 that is exactly what it did. 304 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:18,079 And until you've been through it, 305 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:20,919 you can't really comprehend how it is. 306 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:22,840 Erm, yeah. 307 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:32,399 You just... never think your child is gonna die before you do, and... 308 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:35,359 and I used to sit and think, "Why? Why...? Why him? 309 00:18:35,360 --> 00:18:38,520 "Why...? Why my Danny? Why him?" 310 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:52,159 Professor Tim Dawson is overseeing the postmortem on Danny's body 311 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:55,280 to try and establish the cause of his sudden death. 312 00:18:57,360 --> 00:18:59,079 PROFESSOR DAWSON: All postmortems begin 313 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:01,919 with a careful external examination of the body. 314 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:05,240 And in a sudden death, you would be looking for... 315 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:08,919 ...a catastrophic event in the heart or the head. 316 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,799 So that would be something either like a... a seizure 317 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:14,600 or some event in the heart which stopped the heart beating. 318 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:18,039 So, in the case of a seizure, 319 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:21,479 you might be looking for bite marks on the lips or tongue 320 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:23,279 and small pinpoint haemorrhages 321 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:26,799 over the surface of the eye or on the inside of the eyelid. 322 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:30,759 You'd also be looking for trauma, just in case there was a fall 323 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:33,519 or some sort of trauma associated with the death, 324 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:35,840 and the position in which the body was lying. 325 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:40,719 There were no significant petechial haemorrhages in the eyelids, 326 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:45,159 no signs of biting of the tongue or the lips. 327 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:48,639 There was no external signs of trauma 328 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:53,559 and nothing really to indicate why he might have collapsed. 329 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:56,559 DR SHEPHERD: Nothing on the surface of Danny's body 330 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:58,999 explained what has happened. 331 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:01,159 This result matters. 332 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:04,679 It shows us where the investigation has to go next - 333 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:07,759 a deeper examination of the body 334 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:10,399 to see if there are any answers in the organs, 335 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:14,160 the tissues or the chemistry of the body. 336 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:19,799 With no significant results from the postmortem, 337 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:23,199 blood samples are sent to the toxicology lab 338 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:24,679 to test for the presence 339 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:27,959 of any harmful substances in Danny's system, 340 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:31,280 such as alcohol or recreational drugs. 341 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:38,239 For Danny's family, it's a necessary but painful waiting game. 342 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:43,239 LORRAINE: I do wonder when he actually passed away. 343 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:47,639 I do think to myself, did he know what was happening? 344 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:52,279 Did he feel any pain, and did he shout for me or Dad? 345 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,639 Did he shout "Mum... 346 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:58,199 "Where are you? I don't... I don't feel right. Where are you?" 347 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:00,279 And... And I wasn't there. 348 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:03,159 And I'll never forgive myself for that either. 349 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:06,080 I'll never forgive myself for leaving him to die on his own. 350 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:11,839 Mum lives with a lot of guilt as well, going to work that day, 351 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:16,200 but, of course, that... that was completely normal. Yeah. 352 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,199 DR SHEPHERD: 'When you're examining a body, 353 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:22,439 'you never forget that it's somebody's loved one 354 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:25,560 'and there's a family desperate for an answer.' 355 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:32,039 They need to know why their child suddenly stopped breathing. 356 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:36,000 And so far, for Danny, we don't know. 357 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:56,559 PROFESSOR DAWSON: So, after Daniel's external examination, 358 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:58,879 where there was no significant findings, 359 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:02,319 I did an internal examination to have a look at the heart. 360 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:04,439 The heart appeared normal. It was a normal weight. 361 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:07,720 There were no changes on the external surface that I could see. 362 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:12,279 The lungs were a little bit waterlogged, which was unusual, 363 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:15,559 but I couldn't see any blood clots in any of the vessels, 364 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:17,879 which sometimes are cause of a sudden death. 365 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:20,319 There was no abnormalities in the liver 366 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:25,999 to suggest any metabolic problems, and the kidneys appeared normal. 367 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,359 One of the other major investigations in an autopsy 368 00:22:29,360 --> 00:22:31,559 is to... is to examine the brain. 369 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:35,959 The brain showed no lesions that might have caused a seizure 370 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,319 and was otherwise normal. 371 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:40,519 The blood vessels appeared normal, 372 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:42,199 and there was no evidence of meningitis, 373 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:44,119 which can sometimes cause a rapid death. 374 00:22:44,120 --> 00:22:47,640 So the question remained as to what had caused this death. 375 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:54,159 While the family wait for answers, Eric makes the difficult choice 376 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:57,320 to go and see his son in the chapel of rest. 377 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:03,119 The porters came and... and just said, you know, 378 00:23:03,120 --> 00:23:05,280 he was in the room at the bottom of the corridor. 379 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:09,440 So I went in myself at first. 380 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,119 And he were just obviously lying on... 381 00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:15,680 on the, er... on the bed in the corner. 382 00:23:17,360 --> 00:23:21,440 TEARFULLY: And it was hard, knowing what organs they'd took... 383 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:23,800 ...and that... 384 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:29,520 ...his heart and his brain wasn't there. 385 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:34,720 So... 386 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,720 ...I went over and kissed him on his forehead. 387 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:45,039 There was quite a number of Dan's friends 388 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:48,000 wanted to go and see him at Preston Hospital. 389 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:53,520 So I arranged for us to go up there, met 'em at the hospital. 390 00:23:58,120 --> 00:24:00,239 Me and Danny were in the same year at school, 391 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:04,279 and we'd been best mates from Year 7 till college, pretty much. 392 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:07,440 A load of young lads together at the same time, just doing lad stuff. 393 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:15,720 And when we went to see his body, we just sat in silence. 394 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:19,999 Everyone was together. 395 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:22,279 Just to know that everybody was there, 396 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:25,640 you didn't physically have to say anything to anybody... 397 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:28,119 You just sat there looking at him, 398 00:24:28,120 --> 00:24:29,800 just thinking, like, "This is reality." 399 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:34,039 There was a few sat on the floor with their hands on their head, 400 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:36,359 and then one of them asked me if they could... 401 00:24:36,360 --> 00:24:40,159 touch his hair or move his hair or kiss him on his head. 402 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:41,160 And I said, "Yeah." 403 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:47,519 He must have meant a lot for them lads 404 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:50,680 to want to go there, you know, and see him. 405 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:57,439 JORDAN: Having to deal with that as a, what, 16-year-old was hard, yeah, 406 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,679 because you lose your best mate you didn't think you would gonna lose. 407 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:02,279 You think you're gonna grow up with 'em. 408 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:05,239 So... Yeah, it was hard to process, 409 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:06,959 but, you know, after a few years and stuff, 410 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:10,639 going to his crematorium and spending time with him there, 411 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:13,520 you know, gave me a bit of peace. 412 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:25,799 At Royal Preston Hospital, 413 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:27,519 Margaret's family are waiting for news 414 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:31,039 on whether her organ donation can go ahead. 415 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:32,479 Are you guys OK if we just pop in? 416 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:34,719 Yeah, it's fine, yeah. Just to give you a little update. 417 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:38,559 In Margaret's case, the hospital is able to give a cause of death. 418 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:40,879 There are no suspicious circumstances, 419 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:42,919 and no postmortem is needed. 420 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:45,919 And the coroner is willing to give his permission. 421 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:47,399 WOMAN: That is amazing. 422 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:49,080 SHE SOBS 423 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:53,199 KAREN SUTCLIFFE: I just wanted to give you a bit of a further update. 424 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:54,279 ALAN: Yeah. 425 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:57,239 And we have now had both of her kidneys accepted... 426 00:25:57,240 --> 00:25:59,639 Excellent, excellent. ...by transplant centres. 427 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:01,919 And we've also had her liver accepted as well. 428 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:02,999 CHEERING AND APPLAUSE 429 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:05,640 So she's gonna save three lives? Hopefully, yes. 430 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:09,479 As the surgical team prepare 431 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:12,679 for the operation to remove Margaret's organs, 432 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:14,959 the family say their final goodbyes 433 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:18,399 before her life support is withdrawn. 434 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,159 Who'd have thought we'd doing this today? 435 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:23,760 Hey, Margaret, hey? Who'd have thought? 436 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:27,320 It's unbelievable. 437 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:33,159 We could still have said no. 438 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:35,360 But if she wanted to do it, then she does it. 439 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:41,279 'We've got two kidneys and a liver, which is absolutely fantastic news. 440 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:45,999 'And we'll just have to see how it goes.' 441 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:49,480 Right, Alan, I'll be with you, OK? Yeah, I'll follow behind her. 442 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:52,600 You're on the move, sweetie. NURSE: Yeah, yeah. 443 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:05,200 When they have made the decision, the pressure is still on. 444 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:10,479 Because once the life support machines are turned off, 445 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:13,279 of course, the supply of oxygen around the body 446 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:14,679 is going to decrease, 447 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:16,959 and any organs that might be transplanted 448 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:19,039 are going to begin to deteriorate, 449 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:22,039 even in those last few minutes and hours of life. 450 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:25,039 If that period extends for more than three hours, 451 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:29,360 it's considered that many of the organs would no longer be suitable. 452 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:40,920 SURGEON: Liver out. 453 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:45,880 1,488 grams. 454 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:54,119 Right kidney out. 455 00:27:54,120 --> 00:27:57,080 BEN ARMSTRONG: Marking now. 22-13, yeah? 456 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:03,840 Left kidney out. 457 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:12,199 At the moment, we think we're going to improve the quality 458 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:13,679 of at least three more human beings, 459 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:15,759 and that was a very generous gift from her, 460 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:18,560 that she had agreed and her family had agreed to that process. 461 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:28,959 ALAN: Margaret was loving, helpful to everybody. 462 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:32,800 Just loved life in general. She was... special. 463 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:36,039 PAUL: She'd do anything for anybody. 464 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:39,000 She's the glue that kept the three of us together, more or less. 465 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:42,719 MARC: My mum as a person, 466 00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:46,159 she would always have a way to help somebody else. 467 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:49,439 So being a donor is quite fitting, 468 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:52,439 perfect for the kind of person that she was. 469 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:54,240 I don't think I'll ever get over it... 470 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:56,680 ...at this moment. 471 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:01,000 It's difficult... difficult to get over. 472 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:14,879 Two weeks after Danny's sudden death, 473 00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:17,440 the toxicology results are back. 474 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:20,879 DR SHEPHERD: Abuse of drugs and alcohol 475 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:24,559 is one of the commonest causes of teenage deaths. 476 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:30,079 But Danny's toxicology results confirm that most toxic substances, 477 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:32,999 like alcohol or drugs, have been ruled out. 478 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:35,920 So yet another door is shut. 479 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:39,439 So now we have a case 480 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:41,479 where the external examination's found nothing, 481 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:44,119 the internal examination's found normal organs, 482 00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:46,119 the toxicology is clear. 483 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:49,439 Most sudden deaths are cardiovascular in nature, 484 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:54,959 but Danny's heart at postmortem was normal to the naked eye. 485 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:59,359 But not all changes can be seen with the naked eye. 486 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:02,800 The answer has to lie in here somewhere. 487 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:06,799 Danny's heart is referred 488 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:11,279 to leading cardiac pathologist Professor Mary Sheppard... 489 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:13,599 Joe, could you tell us about this case? 490 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:15,479 What is the background to it? 491 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:18,279 ...who undertakes detailed examinations of the heart 492 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:21,079 in cases of sudden death in young people. 493 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:23,439 So, take the small samples, 494 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:26,840 as in this case, from the left-hand side. 495 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:31,319 The CRY Centre for Cardiac Pathology 496 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:34,560 receives around 20 to 30 hearts per week. 497 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:42,799 A heart will come to us 498 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:45,639 when the pathologist who does the initial autopsy 499 00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:50,480 finds no cause of death in any other organ in the body. 500 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:55,960 Because, really, the answer is in the heart in the majority of cases. 501 00:30:57,560 --> 00:31:01,119 Professor Mary Sheppard looks for any abnormalities 502 00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:04,119 that may not be visible to the naked eye. 503 00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:07,999 The original images of the samples taken from Danny's heart 504 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:09,799 are no longer stored. 505 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:13,079 But the images Professor Mary Sheppard is reviewing 506 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:16,600 are exactly the same as the findings in Danny's heart. 507 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:20,679 It shows these individual, pink, 508 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:24,239 what we call muscle fibres, the myocyte. 509 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:25,439 On the left-hand side, 510 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:28,919 these myocytes are nice and parallel and pink, 511 00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:32,599 and they've just little nuclei at their sides. 512 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:37,039 By contrast, over here on the right, you have these two myocytes, 513 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:41,359 but they're being infiltrated or are being what we call eaten into 514 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:46,359 by inflammatory cells, what we call histiocytes. 515 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:50,359 And these are biting into and destroying the myocyte 516 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:53,520 and can actually cause your heart to stop. 517 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:58,319 But although Danny's heart shows inflammation... 518 00:31:58,320 --> 00:31:59,719 It's only in two myocytes. 519 00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:02,879 The other myocytes surrounding them are normal. 520 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:06,200 ...it's not enough for his heart to have failed. 521 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:12,440 We consider this to be within normal limits, a normal heart. 522 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:19,199 The rest of the heart had no evidence of inflammation or damage. 523 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:25,079 So once we have only one focus of inflammation, 524 00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:29,680 this is insufficient to explain Danny's death. 525 00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:36,079 Tragically, in 60% of cases, like Danny's, 526 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:37,959 where the heart is normal, 527 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:40,480 we do not find an explanation. 528 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:45,039 This is a very unusual situation, 529 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:48,959 and it's incredibly frustrating for the families 530 00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:52,999 but also for the doctors trying to reach the conclusions. 531 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:57,679 Why did Danny's heart simply stop beating? 532 00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:02,359 But we have come to the end of the investigation, 533 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:04,439 and it has to now go to the coroner 534 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:06,839 for them to listen to all of the evidence 535 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:08,400 and to reach a conclusion. 536 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:21,799 Four years after Margaret's death, following a fall at home, 537 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:24,799 her husband and sons are making a special visit 538 00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:26,839 to Royal Preston Hospital 539 00:33:26,840 --> 00:33:30,359 to see her memorial leaf on the Tree of Life. 540 00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:31,559 MARC: Oh, look at that. 541 00:33:31,560 --> 00:33:33,799 The tree serves as a lasting tribute 542 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:37,159 to those whose organ donations have helped save 543 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:39,159 and transform the lives of others. 544 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:43,599 Margaret's wish was to organ don', and that's what we did. 545 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:44,719 It's nice to know 546 00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:47,799 that part of Margaret's living on in somebody else, 547 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:49,999 keeping somebody else alive, 548 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:52,000 because that's what Margaret would have wanted. 549 00:34:00,560 --> 00:34:03,799 It would be nice if we could find Margaret's leaf, but, er... 550 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:04,800 We'll find it. 551 00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:09,799 There she is. There it is. 552 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:11,440 Here we go. She's there. 553 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:15,440 Fab, fa... fantastic. 554 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:18,079 PAUL: Oh, yeah, I see it. I see it now. 555 00:34:18,080 --> 00:34:19,879 Wow. It's good, innit? 556 00:34:19,880 --> 00:34:23,199 She's been honoured again, to me. 557 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:25,640 To be on that tree, she's been honoured again. 558 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:28,479 Wow. 559 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:30,479 Yeah. Yeah, it's nice. Very impressed. 560 00:34:30,480 --> 00:34:34,799 Wow, for me to see her, her leaf there... Good, innit? 561 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:35,959 Fantastic. Beautiful. 562 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:37,160 Good. Fantastic. 563 00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:41,039 Sorry. Nice day for it as well. 564 00:34:41,040 --> 00:34:42,599 Come out in the sunshine. 565 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:47,239 She liked to sunbathe, so she's sunbathing 365 days a year. 566 00:34:47,240 --> 00:34:49,880 I'm sorry, I might get a bit teary. Give over. 567 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:55,080 Fantastic. Yeah. 568 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:06,439 'It's changed my opinion of organ donorship 569 00:35:06,440 --> 00:35:08,879 'to a very positive one.' 570 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:12,879 The boys' strict instructions - no opt-outs. 571 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:15,240 I don't know what they'd be able to take, but there you go. 572 00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:22,560 If she was stood where I'm stood, and it were my name... 573 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:26,760 ...she'd be overjoyed, I should think. Yeah, she'd be chuffed. 574 00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:32,800 Like I am now. She would. 575 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:47,119 Five months after Danny Nicholls died, 576 00:35:47,120 --> 00:35:50,799 his family attend the inquest into the teenager's death 577 00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:53,039 in the hope they'll finally get the answers 578 00:35:53,040 --> 00:35:55,399 they've desperately been waiting for. 579 00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:57,119 LORRAINE: So, he passed away in December, 580 00:35:57,120 --> 00:36:00,760 it was May time by the time we actually went for the inquest. 581 00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:04,479 And so we had to wait all this time wondering, 582 00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:07,239 "Was it drugs and we didn't know about it? 583 00:36:07,240 --> 00:36:10,039 "Did he have some sort of illness we weren't... 584 00:36:10,040 --> 00:36:12,399 "as parents, we weren't aware of?" 585 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:14,279 So we had to go through all those months... 586 00:36:14,280 --> 00:36:16,039 What if, what if, what if? 587 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:18,679 And supposing, supposing, supposing. 588 00:36:18,680 --> 00:36:23,519 And we needed that answer from the inquest 589 00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:26,199 to get any sort of peace, if you will, 590 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:30,159 as to why Daniel just was here one minute 591 00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:32,400 and then gone the next, suddenly. 592 00:36:34,840 --> 00:36:38,079 'Having considered the medical evidence presented to the court 593 00:36:38,080 --> 00:36:41,479 'and having heard the findings of the postmortem examination 594 00:36:41,480 --> 00:36:45,479 'conducted by Professor Dawson and the police investigation, 595 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:48,559 'presented by Detective Inspector Graham Hill, 596 00:36:48,560 --> 00:36:51,799 'there is no evidence of third-party involvement. 597 00:36:51,800 --> 00:36:54,719 'There is no evidence of self-harm. 598 00:36:54,720 --> 00:36:58,239 'There is no evidence of any toxic cause. 599 00:36:58,240 --> 00:37:03,799 'I am satisfied that Daniel Craig Nicholls died from natural causes. 600 00:37:03,800 --> 00:37:06,159 'The specialist examination of the heart found 601 00:37:06,160 --> 00:37:10,879 'only a small focus of inflammation of uncertain significance. 602 00:37:10,880 --> 00:37:15,039 'There is no structural abnormality that accounts for his death. 603 00:37:15,040 --> 00:37:18,919 'The medical evidence indicates, on the balance of probabilities, 604 00:37:18,920 --> 00:37:21,959 'that Daniel's death was seizure-related. 605 00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:24,720 'This is a diagnosis of exclusion.' 606 00:37:25,720 --> 00:37:30,239 A diagnosis of exclusion is not the verdict of ignorance. 607 00:37:30,240 --> 00:37:33,359 It's a verdict of rigorous elimination, 608 00:37:33,360 --> 00:37:35,519 and this is where it points. 609 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:38,159 We know that Danny's heart was normal, 610 00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:41,319 which strongly suggests he had a seizure. 611 00:37:41,320 --> 00:37:45,639 And a seizure is when the electrical activity in the brain 612 00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:48,919 ceases to be organised and planned 613 00:37:48,920 --> 00:37:52,799 and becomes disorganised and stops functioning properly. 614 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:55,439 And that affects not just the brain itself 615 00:37:55,440 --> 00:37:58,359 but the nerves that come out of the bottom of the brain 616 00:37:58,360 --> 00:38:00,559 and supply all of the organs of the body. 617 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:03,279 One of those nerves supplies the heart, 618 00:38:03,280 --> 00:38:04,799 and so a seizure in the brain 619 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:07,799 causes changes in the patterns of that nerve 620 00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:11,840 and can make the heart stop and sudden death occur. 621 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:16,079 Professor Dawson examined Danny's brain and found nothing. 622 00:38:16,080 --> 00:38:19,879 Now, we never find any mark within the brain 623 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:22,319 to show that a fit has taken place. 624 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:24,039 What we can sometimes find 625 00:38:24,040 --> 00:38:27,559 is the reason the fit occurred in the first place. 626 00:38:27,560 --> 00:38:29,119 So there could be a tumour. 627 00:38:29,120 --> 00:38:32,359 There could be an old scar. There could be a site of infection. 628 00:38:32,360 --> 00:38:35,919 So many things can cause it. 629 00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:37,879 But even when we look really carefully, 630 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:40,880 most of the time, we find nothing. 631 00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:48,719 'I record a verdict of natural causes. 632 00:38:48,720 --> 00:38:52,639 'Natural causes for the death of somebody at 16 years of age 633 00:38:52,640 --> 00:38:54,639 'doesn't seem right, 634 00:38:54,640 --> 00:38:58,600 'but it is the appropriate verdict to record in a case such as this.' 635 00:39:15,040 --> 00:39:19,639 I thought the inquest would sort of close things for us, 636 00:39:19,640 --> 00:39:21,799 but in a way, it's opened another door, 637 00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:26,879 because how can what seems to be a happy, healthy 16-year-old 638 00:39:26,880 --> 00:39:28,839 die of natural causes? 639 00:39:28,840 --> 00:39:31,119 When... I mean, when my parents passed away, 640 00:39:31,120 --> 00:39:35,519 they were in their 80s, and, yeah, I will put that as natural causes, 641 00:39:35,520 --> 00:39:39,159 but not a 16-year-old boy that was playing on his Xbox, 642 00:39:39,160 --> 00:39:41,120 happy as Larry the day before. 643 00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:44,759 DR SHEPHERD: We can't say definitively 644 00:39:44,760 --> 00:39:47,079 what caused Danny's death. 645 00:39:47,080 --> 00:39:51,279 But the evidence is pointing, is on the balance of probabilities, 646 00:39:51,280 --> 00:39:53,559 towards a seizure, 647 00:39:53,560 --> 00:39:57,559 something that would have happened instantaneously, 648 00:39:57,560 --> 00:40:00,960 and he wouldn't have known that it was coming. 649 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:05,639 The professor who was leading the investigation, 650 00:40:05,640 --> 00:40:09,919 he did say that anybody can have a seizure at any time. 651 00:40:09,920 --> 00:40:12,519 And then I asked him if Danny had've been in town, 652 00:40:12,520 --> 00:40:16,039 cos he should have been going to the bank to put some money in, 653 00:40:16,040 --> 00:40:18,079 would the paramedics have been able to save him? 654 00:40:18,080 --> 00:40:20,600 And his definite answer was no. 655 00:40:22,280 --> 00:40:25,399 LOUISE: I guess, you know, we was reassured that he didn't suffer, 656 00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:26,519 and it was very quick. 657 00:40:26,520 --> 00:40:28,839 But also there's a lot of anger, isn't there, around that, 658 00:40:28,840 --> 00:40:30,439 and, you know, why him? 659 00:40:30,440 --> 00:40:34,840 He was perfectly healthy. Why? Why our family? 660 00:40:36,360 --> 00:40:41,199 We have to accept the professional point of view and the investigation. 661 00:40:41,200 --> 00:40:44,640 But it always just sits on your mind, you know. 662 00:40:45,680 --> 00:40:50,800 So it's not a full closure, like as we would get... 663 00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:55,720 VOICE BREAKING: ..which makes it a bit har... a bit harder, you know? 664 00:41:00,760 --> 00:41:05,159 You never think you're gonna have to, you know, lose or... 665 00:41:05,160 --> 00:41:10,640 bury your... your son or daughter at such an age, so... 666 00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:18,560 And it's just grateful that we had him for the time we had him. 667 00:41:19,840 --> 00:41:21,160 In a way. 668 00:41:36,280 --> 00:41:37,919 LORRAINE: There's beers in that fridge, 669 00:41:37,920 --> 00:41:39,240 and there's wine under there. 670 00:41:40,920 --> 00:41:43,840 We might end up using gin glasses for wine. 671 00:41:46,040 --> 00:41:48,239 'So, today, we're celebrating what would have been 672 00:41:48,240 --> 00:41:50,799 'our Daniel's 30th birthday. 673 00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:53,159 'Just get a few of his select friends together 674 00:41:53,160 --> 00:41:56,359 'and close family to sort of mainly have a laugh and... 675 00:41:56,360 --> 00:41:58,400 'and think about him, yeah.' 676 00:42:02,080 --> 00:42:04,679 ERIC: 'So, this was an old bike I had in the lockup, 677 00:42:04,680 --> 00:42:06,599 'weren't too sure what to do with it, 678 00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:08,159 'and then, of course, with losing Dan, 679 00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:12,920 'I thought, "Why not basically build a bike in memory of Daniel?" ' 680 00:42:15,320 --> 00:42:19,959 The pictures on the side represent family, parents, grandparents. 681 00:42:19,960 --> 00:42:23,519 It was one Christmas when I got it finished. 682 00:42:23,520 --> 00:42:26,799 And I got the girls to take Lorraine out 683 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:28,879 while I got it in the conservatory. 684 00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:32,639 When she came home, Lorraine took the main sheet off. 685 00:42:32,640 --> 00:42:35,000 There were tears at t'end of it, like, you know what I mean? 686 00:42:38,320 --> 00:42:40,599 It's a weird feeling, as I say, 687 00:42:40,600 --> 00:42:43,599 cos you're doing a celebration but not for a physical person. 688 00:42:43,600 --> 00:42:46,039 You're doing it on a memory, so it's very... 689 00:42:46,040 --> 00:42:48,000 I don't know. It's hard to explain. 690 00:42:49,400 --> 00:42:52,279 With my lad, he knows who Eric is, knows who Danny is, 691 00:42:52,280 --> 00:42:53,799 we go to his grave. 692 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:55,439 Like, we talk about heaven and what it is 693 00:42:55,440 --> 00:42:57,839 and why you go and things like that. 694 00:42:57,840 --> 00:43:02,400 So... I... Personally, that's my way of keeping it going. 695 00:43:04,800 --> 00:43:07,159 Yeah? Dad, why is your eyes so watery? 696 00:43:07,160 --> 00:43:08,319 They're not! 697 00:43:08,320 --> 00:43:11,519 It's just really nice that we can do this 698 00:43:11,520 --> 00:43:14,279 and that we've got our family and Daniel's friends here. 699 00:43:14,280 --> 00:43:16,359 You know, they've made the effort to be here for... 700 00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:17,999 mainly for my mum and dad, you know. 701 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:19,159 LAUGHTER 702 00:43:19,160 --> 00:43:21,839 JORDAN: And, obviously, Billy's got two kids. Dan's got two kids. 703 00:43:21,840 --> 00:43:24,639 Obviously, it's a shame that he couldn't experience stuff like that, 704 00:43:24,640 --> 00:43:27,480 but, you know... I mean, he'll always be 16. 705 00:43:28,480 --> 00:43:31,159 LEANNE: You're always thinking, you know, what would he be doing? 706 00:43:31,160 --> 00:43:33,119 You know, would he have had kids by now? 707 00:43:33,120 --> 00:43:35,440 Would he have moved out? What would he be doing for a job? 708 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:39,279 It is hard, definitely. 709 00:43:39,280 --> 00:43:42,919 Right, thanks for coming today. It's... 710 00:43:42,920 --> 00:43:45,839 We all know what it's for, what it means. 711 00:43:45,840 --> 00:43:50,039 It's all about carrying on, having faith 712 00:43:50,040 --> 00:43:53,120 and basically sticking together and be there for one another. 713 00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:55,839 And I think we've done that. 714 00:43:55,840 --> 00:43:58,639 So, thanks, love you all, 715 00:43:58,640 --> 00:44:03,199 and I hope you like the bits of food you've had and drink, 716 00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:05,079 and just remember Danny. 717 00:44:05,080 --> 00:44:07,160 To Danny. Thank you. Happy birthday, Daniel. 718 00:44:13,160 --> 00:44:15,159 Same again? Aye, we'll go get them. 719 00:44:15,160 --> 00:44:16,760 I'll go and get 'em out. 720 00:44:21,320 --> 00:44:22,880 LORRAINE: Happy 30th, Danny. 721 00:44:24,400 --> 00:44:25,920 I wish you was here. 722 00:44:28,360 --> 00:44:31,240 DANIEL BABBLES