Three-year-old Ryleigh Hillcoat-Bee died in November 2021, three months after being sent home from A&E despite signs of a serious muscle condition, rhabdomyolysis. Doctors missed opportunities to diagnose her illness, and she suffered a fatal heart attack after her condition worsened. A coroner’s inquest revealed failures in her care, including ignoring advice to consult a neuromuscular specialist.
Ryleigh’s parents, Caroline and Andrew, are pursuing a medical negligence claim, believing her death was preventable. In her memory, family and friends have raised funds for The Compassionate Friends, a charity supporting bereaved parents, while the hospital vowed to learn from the tragedy.