Robert Green collapsed in his parents’ bedroom hours after leaving hospital
Robert Green, 14, died suddenly after suffering chest pains and he was struggling to breathe(Image: Robbie Green)
A Merseyside hospital has launched a review following the death of a 14-year-old boy. Robert Green was sent home from Arrowe Park Hospital after he was allegedly told he was suffering with a muscle injury before dying 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, told the ECHO 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 rushed him to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
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.
Ruth and Robbie Green with their daughter Bree’Ann from Bidston(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
His dad, however, told the ECHO he believes if he had been sent for a scan while he was at the hospital, the deadly condition could have been identified and his son might have been saved.
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.”
Robert’s funeral takes place at 10am on August 22 at Landican Cemetery on Arrowe Park Road. The wake will then be held at Beechwood Social Club with the community invited to remember the 14-year-old and asked to wear some purple. A social media appeal has also been made for bikers in Wirral and surrounding areas to give Robert an escort from their family home on Ballantyne Drive to the cemetery.
Robert Green’s family claim he was sent home from hospital after being told he had a muscle injury(Image: Robbie Green)
Speaking ahead of the funeral later this month, Robbie said: “He was a really kind, friendly boy. He had a lot of friends. If someone hurt themselves he’d be there to help them straight away.
“He was just that kind of kid. He was a brilliant big brother to his little sister Bree’ann. He wasn’t so much into sport but I would take him to Liverpool matches when he was little but stopped as he also had autism which meant he didn’t like crowds.
“He was into his gaming, he had his PC, laptop and PS5 so he was quite happy with all that rather than out playing football.”
Family friend Alan Norris has also launched a campaign to raise money towards the funeral. He wrote: “Hello everyone, I’m Alan Norris (Chuck), a very close friend to Robbie and Ruth Green, the parents of Robert Green who unfortunately passed away suddenly on Wednesday the 16th of July at the tender age of 14 .
“I know there’s nothing that can ease the pain of which all the family are going through, but hopefully we can remove some of the difficulties and financial worries for the family and give there baby boy the send off that he deserves.
“Please lets all come together at this very difficult and sad time.”
The GoFundMe has raised close to £7,000 at the time of writing and is available to view here.