Boy 'excited' before fatal surgery

Tony's parents, George and Carol Clowes, arrive at the inquest

A nurse has told an inquest that a nine-year-old boy was "very excited" as he was prepared for the routine operation which led to his death.

Mary Takawira said Tony Clowes, of Dagenham, Essex, asked questions as he was prepared for surgery at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, in July 2001.

The boy was due to have routine surgery on a finger injury, but died while under general anaesthetic.

Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray was told that he stopped breathing after an angle piece in a length of plastic tubing which formed part of the anaesthetic equipment became blocked.

'This doesn't feel right'

Ms Takawira - who was assisting an anaesthetist - told the inquest that she greeted Tony when he arrived at the operating theatre to get ready for surgery.

She said she remembered showing him a face mask before a doctor applied the mask and Tony went to sleep for the surgery.

Ms Takawira said the team then found they could not ventilate the youngster.

She said she recalled one doctor coming into the room and saying words to the effect of "this doesn't feel right".

She added: "He started to disconnect each piece to check, and then he said 'What's this? That is the problem'."