20-year-old dies of flesh-eating disease after doctors dismiss ‘red flag’ symptoms as tonsillitis

HE NEEDS TO KNOW

• An amateur footballer in England died of sepsis and a flesh-eating disease in January 2023

• Luke Abrahams, 20, had his symptoms dismissed as tonsillitis and sciatica by several medical professionals in the days leading up to his death.

• Ahead of an inquest into the circumstances of his death, Abrahams’ parents remembered him as a good man who “got on with everyone”

An amateur footballer was diagnosed with tonsillitis and prescribed antibiotics just days before his death from a bacterial infection and flesh-eating disease.

An inquest into his death was opened at Northampton Coroner’s Court in England on Tuesday, January 20, following the death of 20-year-old Luke Abrahams on January 23, 2023, according to a post on North Northamptonshire Council’s website.

The BBC reported that the inquest was opened after Abrahams, from Northampton, which is about 70 miles north of London, died of sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, is a bacterial infection that affects the tissue under the skin called fascia.”

The site adds that the infection can be “treated with antibiotics and surgery to remove the damaged tissue.”

In the week before his death, Abrahams was in contact with numerous doctors, as well as the emergency room and paramedics, according to ITV. He also called 111 [the U.K.’s non-emergency medical number].

After Abrahams was diagnosed with tonsillitis and prescribed antibiotics, his condition worsened and leg pain left him unable to move, according to the BBC. Three days before his death, Abrahams had a video consultation with a doctor after hours on January 20, 2023, with the doctor diagnosing sciatica. According to the Mayo Clinic, sciatica refers to pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve from the buttocks and down each leg.

Although Abrahams had a high temperature and high blood sugar, an ambulance crew said he did not need to go to the hospital when his family called him 12 hours after the sciatica diagnosis. He was admitted to hospital two days later but died the following day, the BBC added.

Before his death, attempts were made to save Abrahams by amputating his leg, ITV reported.

Speaking ahead of the inquest into his death, Abrahams’ father Richard said: “It’s so frustrating – I know they could have treated him better than they did,” according to ITV.

“We want justice and accountability. Someone has to be held accountable,” he added.

Abrahams’ mother Julie said: “We just want to know where they went wrong, how they let Luke down and for them to be honest and take responsibility so we can properly grieve and let Luke rest in peace,” ITV reported.

Susan Jevons, head of patient safety and coroner for East Midlands Ambulance Service, admitted during the inquest that Abrahams should have been taken to hospital, according to the BBC.

Jevons said, “If you look at Luke’s presentation, it was not normal. The blood glucose and pain score warranted a transfer to [the] hospital,” she said, adding, “He was a sick man.”

“He had been treated and it wasn’t working. By leaving him at home he wasn’t going to get the treatment he needed,” she concluded.

It was confirmed during the court inquest that a paramedic involved left the ambulance service after being watched for a period of time after the incident, the BBC said.

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In a November 2024 article, the BBC noted that an inquest had been opened into Abrahams’ death, but the coroner adjourned the inquest until May 2025 after declaring that he had died of “natural causes”.

The previous report stated that a serious incident investigation at East Midlands Ambulance Service Trust found that the crew did not follow guidelines and policies before Abrahams’ death, the BBC reported, adding that his symptoms should have indicated a life-threatening condition and led to a transfer to hospital.

The inquest also said Abrahams not being taken to hospital meant there was a “missed opportunity” for him to get medical help, which could have prevented “deterioration”, according to the outlet.

“He just got on with everybody, he had a second for everybody,” Abrahams’ parents told the BBC of their son ahead of Tuesday’s inquest. “He used to go out at 11 at night because his friend needed a chat. He made time for everyone, just bringing everyone together. That was Luke,” they added.

NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for further comment and information.

A spokesman for East Midlands Ambulance Service told PEOPLE in an email: “With [investigation] ongoing and we believe is currently planned to continue through Thursday, we will wait until the coroner is finished before sharing a statement.”

A spokesperson for the Northampton Coroner’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE that [investigation] may end on Thursday, January 22, or Friday, January 23.

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