Robert Green, 14, died after walking into his parents’ bedroom complaining of chest pains
Robert Green arriving at his funeral with older sister Bree’ann accompanying him on the motorcycle
Hundreds gathered to pay their respects as a 14-year-old boy was laid to rest. Robert Green, from Bidston, was sent home from Arrowe Park Hospital after he was allegedly told he was suffering with a muscle injury. He died just hours later.
Robert was out kayaking with his friend and his family on Saturday, July 12, before complaining of chest pain and being short of breath when he got home. He went to New Brighton with his friend the following day before returning home when the beach became crowded due to the heatwave.
His family said following two days in school, he began complaining of chest pains and breathing difficulties again on the night of Tuesday, July 15, when his mum, Ruth, took him to Arrowe Park’s accident and emergency department.
Robert’s dad, Robbie, explained how his son was sent home from the hospital when a doctor told him he had suffered a muscle injury, telling him to perform stretches at home. After he was discharged at around 12.15am, Robert entered his parents’ bedroom where he complained about his breathing and chest pains.
Robbie said he told him to sit down before Robert’s “eyes rolled to the back of his head” and he collapsed. The distraught dad performed CPR before paramedics arrived and took him to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Ruth and Robbie Green at their son, Robert’s, funeral
Robert, who attended educational facility Impact North West, is believed to have died from bilateral pneumothorax although the cause of the condition is yet to be established. Bilateral pneumothorax is when air leaks into the space between the lung and chest wall on both sides, and is a rare but serious condition.
Friday, August 22, saw Robert laid to rest after he was escorted to Landican Crematorium by 250 bikers. Hundreds gathered outside the chapel during the service, with people unable to get into the hall watching a live stream on their phones.
It came after Robbie and Ruth appealed for bikers to attend and escort Robert to the crematorium due to the teen’s love for motorbikes and motorcycles. The appeal was shared widely on social media as well as featuring in the ECHO during the family’s tribute to the schoolboy.
Speaking to the ECHO today, Monday, Robbie said: “It was amazing with all the bikers and everything, we were blown away by it all.
“It was chocker, not everyone could fit in the crematorium so there was a big crowd outside watching the stream. It was good and exactly what Robert would have wanted.
Robert Green sadly died at the age of 14
“People from all over the country were there, friends came from Scotland, Kent and one friend flew over from Ireland.
“When the bikers came onto our road with Robert in the side car they all lined up and they were revving their engines me and Ruth just looked at each other and I said ‘our Robert would have loved this’.”
Robbie added: “We also want to praise Sue Porter Funeral Directors as they went above and beyond. Robert didn’t arrive from Alder Hey until late so we couldn’t see him but they opened up just for us on the Saturday morning. It meant a lot and we couldn’t have asked for more.”
Previously, Robbie told the ECHO he believes if his son had been sent for a scan while he was at the hospital, the deadly condition could have been identified and he might have been saved.
Ruth and Robbie Green with their daughter Bree’ann from Bidston(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Robbie, a 51-year-old bus driver, said: “We don’t know how he has got this condition but they have sent him home saying it’s a muscle injury but they didn’t perform a basic x-ray. If you bang your leg, bang your foot, bang your arm, bang your finger, you go for an x-ray.
“A boy who is physically fit at 14 turns up to hospital struggling to breathe with chest pain, you would think you would send him for further tests.”
A review has now been launched, with a spokesperson for Wirral University Teaching Hospital telling the ECHO: “We express our deepest condolences to the family following this tragic incident.
“While we can’t comment on individual circumstances, all sudden unexpected loss of a child [cases] are subject to an external review process to establish the facts. The trust is following these processes and will work with Robert’s family to address their questions.”