3<\/p>\n Theo Tuikubulau died of sepsisCredit: Go Fund Me 3<\/p>\n A doctor at Derriford Hospital thought Theo had an ear infection, the court heardCredit: Getty<\/p>\n Described by his mum as a \u201chappy, loving and affectionate little boy\u201d obsessed with fire engines, Theo\u2019s mild cold-like symptoms<\/a> quickly worsened, the inquest into his death heard.<\/p>\n Exeter Coroner’s Court was told a doctor at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth believed Theo had an ear infection<\/a> and discharged him to the family home in Torpoint, Cornwall, on July 7.<\/p>\n Dr Andy Robinson, a consultant paediatrician, explained Theo\u2019s condition rapidly collapsed when he returned to hospital.<\/p>\n On July 5, worried Kayleigh called NHS 111 after noticing Theo was \u201cnot feeling himself\u201d with a “snotty nose” and “cold-like symptoms”. <\/p>\n Ambulances<\/a> were busy, so she was told a taxi could take him to hospital. This idea was stood down as he was sleeping.<\/p>\n She gave him Calpol<\/a>, hoping it was just a cold. Although he seemed a little better, Theo was far from his usual self, according to Cornwall Live<\/a>.<\/p>\n The next day, July 6, Theo was rushed to A&E after developing a “red dot” rash on his chest, a high fever of 40.2C, and struggling to breathe.<\/p>\n Kayleigh described him gasping for air and the corners of his mouth turning blue.<\/p>\n A doctor told her Theo, who wasn\u2019t drinking and hadn\u2019t passed urine all day, had an ear infection.<\/p>\n “I felt OK because I believed what the professionals were saying,” she told the jury, according to the BBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n The signs and symptoms of sepsis to look out for, according to The UK Sepsis Trust<\/p>\n Due to fact Theo hadn’t passed urine, he was admitted to the Children\u2019s Assessment Unit with a view to putting him on a drip, but it never happened.<\/p>\n At around 10pm, a doctor examined Theo\u2019s eyes and ears and said he could go home without antibiotics<\/a>. No blood tests or swabs were done to confirm infection.<\/p>\n Theo was discharged at 12.30am on July 7, but Kayleigh said couldn\u2019t understand why he wasn\u2019t kept, especially as the ward wasn\u2019t busy.<\/p>\n I tried to go back into the room, but they wouldn\u2019t let me. I went outside and was sick<\/p>\n Kayleigh KennefordTheo’s mum <\/p><\/blockquote>\n He spent a restless night in his mum’s bed but continued to get worse.<\/p>\n By 9:47pm, Kayleigh called a nurse at the Children\u2019s Unit, who told her to give Theo sugary drinks.<\/p>\n “I felt I was being fobbed off,” she said.<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n When Theo\u2019s breathing grew \u201ccrackly,\u201d the mum called NHS 111 again and was told to call an ambulance immediately.<\/p>\n At 12.56am on July 8, paramedics arrived and rushed Theo back to Derriford Hospital, where he was taken straight to resuscitation <\/a>with suspected meningitis<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s so hard knowing that your child is being worked on, and they are trying to save him,\u201d Kayleigh said.<\/p>\n “I tried to go back into the room, but they wouldn\u2019t let me. I went outside and was sick.”<\/p>\n Despite frantic attempts to save him, doctors told the family there was nothing more they could do.<\/p>\n “We went in the room and held his hand and they switched everything off,” Kayleigh said quietly.<\/p>\n Theo was confirmed to have died from sepsis, a condition where the immune system has a dangerous reaction to an infection.<\/p>\n Strep A outbreak<\/p>\n Dr Robinson explained that swabs weren\u2019t taken because results take 36-48 hours and wouldn\u2019t have helped at the time. And that Theo wasn\u2019t given antibiotics due to risk of allergic reactions.<\/p>\n He said Kayleigh\u2019s call to the children\u2019s unit on July 7 showed \u201cnothing flagged\u201d to suggest Theo was deteriorating.<\/p>\n He described Theo as \u201cexceptionally pale\u201d and very different from 24 hours before.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was still hot but no rash,\u201d he said. \u201cI thought he had sepsis and septic shock.\u201d<\/p>\n Doctors struggled to get an IV line as Theo\u2019s body shut down; his heart rate dropped and he stopped breathing.<\/p>\n He was given rescue breaths and chest compressions for 30 minutes.<\/p>\n![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/boy-died-sepsis-call-handler-1007295602.jpg\")
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