Family ‘deeply heartbroken’ by death of ‘amazing’ Rhyl dad

Michael Hugh Matthews, 48, of Walford Avenue, was pronounced dead at about 12.30am on March 3, 2020 after collapsing in the hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) waiting room.

At a full inquest, held on Tuesday (April 11) in Ruthin, John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, recorded a conclusion of death arising from natural causes.

Mr Matthews’ sister, Julie, said they hope “no other family will go through what we have experienced over the past three years”.

READ MORE:

Rhyl man who died after heart attack ‘let down badly’ by hospital

Michael Matthews with his two sons. (Image: Julie Matthews)

He had arrived at the ED at 6.43pm on March 2, complaining of chest pains, and was triaged more than one hour later before being sent back to the ED’s waiting room, where he collapsed at 11.23pm.

Attempts to then resuscitate Mr Matthews were unsuccessful, and he was later pronounced dead.

Born in St Asaph, Mr Matthews worked as a transport manager, and had two sons, Louis and Alfie, with his ex-wife, Sian.

In a joint statement following the conclusion of the inquest, his sons said: “We are deeply heartbroken at the loss of our dad. We miss him dreadfully every single day.

“Our dad is missing out on all the enjoyable activities we used to do together, mainly football.

“We are both devastated that he won't get to see us grow up, and that we won't be able to create any more memories with him. 

“At the time of dad's death, we were 13 and 15 years of age, and we would not wish what we went through on anyone else.

“We love and miss him so much.”

His sister, Julie, also celebrated the life of her late brother, remembering his “daft sense of humour, his bad jokes, his love of Liverpool FC, and his huge love and devotion for his sons”.

Mr Matthews was living with and caring for their mother, who was suffering from dementia, at the time of his death.

Ms Matthews said: “The loss of Mike has left a huge hole in the hearts of all of his family and friends. He was an amazing dad, son, brother and friend to so many people.

“Every day, we miss his daft sense of humour, his bad jokes, his love of Liverpool FC and his huge love and devotion for his sons, Louis and Alfie, who he adored.

“Mike was the apple of our mum’s eye. She lived with dementia, and Mike was the only one of us who could get her to take her medication without any fuss.”

It took Mr Matthews roughly 70 minutes to be triaged at Glan Clwyd, despite the hospital’s target of triaging each patient within 15 minutes of their arrival at the ED.

He required an electrocardiogram (ECG) and a blood test urgently, but neither of these took place.

Ms Matthews expressed her hope that the inquest’s findings will bring about the relevant changes at Glan Clwyd to ensure that this tragedy does not re-occur.

She added: “The image of mum shaking Mike’s arm and telling him to get up as it was time to go home when we went to the hospital on the night Mike died will stay with me forever.

“She couldn’t understand what had happened to him.

“Every day, I am tormented by the fact that he must have suffered the loneliest of deaths, in a crowded room full of strangers, sat within 10 feet of hospital staff who could have helped him, and without any of his family there to hold his hand.

“Mike should have been given the opportunity to still be here with us, still sharing his bad jokes, talking football and watching his sons grow up into the fine young men they have become, doing him proud every single day.

“We hope, following the findings of this inquest, that improvements will be made in the ED, and that no other family will go through what we have experienced over the past three years.

“We love and miss you, Mike. You are forever in our hearts and minds.”

Mr Matthews was working for Brakes Foodservice, at its Bodelwyddan depot, at the time of his death.

Statements from his colleagues which were read out at Tuesday’s inquest told of how “everyone liked Mike” at the company, and that they were “shocked” to learn of his death.

He was described by one of his co-workers as “one of the most generous people I have ever met”.

Mr Gittins concluded Tuesday’s inquest by saying that a “lack of diligence and care” had been shown to Mr Matthews, “a dad, a brother, a loved one, that people miss and care for”.

Senior members of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board who gave evidence at the inquest apologised to Mr Matthews’ family.

They accepted that the hospital “let Mr Matthews down badly”, and that the care he received “fell short of expectations”.