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| Boy who died of scurvy 'invisible' to authorities, says leaked report | Boy who died of scurvy 'invisible' to authorities, says leaked report |
| (7 months later) | |
| Champions of children’s rights have expressed deep concern over the case of an eight-year-old boy who died of scurvy in a remote rural community after slipping under the radar of health and education officials. | Champions of children’s rights have expressed deep concern over the case of an eight-year-old boy who died of scurvy in a remote rural community after slipping under the radar of health and education officials. |
| A leaked draft review of the case of Dylan Seabridge, who collapsed at home in south-west Wales in 2011, suggests he was “all but invisible” to the authorities. The children’s commissioner in Wales, Sally Holland, and the NSPCC children’s charity said the case should lead to a review of how young people such as Dylan, who was educated at home, are monitored. | A leaked draft review of the case of Dylan Seabridge, who collapsed at home in south-west Wales in 2011, suggests he was “all but invisible” to the authorities. The children’s commissioner in Wales, Sally Holland, and the NSPCC children’s charity said the case should lead to a review of how young people such as Dylan, who was educated at home, are monitored. |
| Holland said she thought every child in Britain should be seen by someone outside their home. “This is a rare case, but I don’t think that Dylan Seabridge is the only child who is completely under the radar in Britain,” she said. “We should be learning what we can very clearly from this case and as quickly as possible.” | Holland said she thought every child in Britain should be seen by someone outside their home. “This is a rare case, but I don’t think that Dylan Seabridge is the only child who is completely under the radar in Britain,” she said. “We should be learning what we can very clearly from this case and as quickly as possible.” |
| A spokesperson for NSPCC Cymru said: “Every family has a right to choose how to educate a child and home learning alone is not a risk factor for abuse or neglect. But it is important to ensure that they do not fall off the local services radar.” | A spokesperson for NSPCC Cymru said: “Every family has a right to choose how to educate a child and home learning alone is not a risk factor for abuse or neglect. But it is important to ensure that they do not fall off the local services radar.” |
| The NSPCC called for a register of children who had home schooling. The spokesperson said: “We know that the overwhelming majority of parents want a safe learning environment for their children. A register would help to ensure this is the case for every single home-educated child.” | The NSPCC called for a register of children who had home schooling. The spokesperson said: “We know that the overwhelming majority of parents want a safe learning environment for their children. A register would help to ensure this is the case for every single home-educated child.” |
| A series of delays to a final report on the case and a lengthy investigation by police and Crown Prosecution Service lawyers mean the full story of what happened to Dylan is still not known more than four years after he died. | A series of delays to a final report on the case and a lengthy investigation by police and Crown Prosecution Service lawyers mean the full story of what happened to Dylan is still not known more than four years after he died. |
| Paramedics were called to the family home, a remote smallholding in Pembrokeshire, just before Christmas 2011. Dylan’s father, Glynn, had told the 999 operator that his son had collapsed after being unwell for a few days. Despite the remote location, paramedics arrived within seven minutes. Dylan was lying on the living room floor, unconscious and not breathing; his father was kneeling next to him. | Paramedics were called to the family home, a remote smallholding in Pembrokeshire, just before Christmas 2011. Dylan’s father, Glynn, had told the 999 operator that his son had collapsed after being unwell for a few days. Despite the remote location, paramedics arrived within seven minutes. Dylan was lying on the living room floor, unconscious and not breathing; his father was kneeling next to him. |
| The paramedics began trying to resuscitate him, continuing in the ambulance and throughout the journey to Withybush hospital in Haverfordwest, but the boy went into cardiac arrest and could not be saved. Dylan’s mother, Julie, did not travel with her son because of her own ill health. | The paramedics began trying to resuscitate him, continuing in the ambulance and throughout the journey to Withybush hospital in Haverfordwest, but the boy went into cardiac arrest and could not be saved. Dylan’s mother, Julie, did not travel with her son because of her own ill health. |
| At his inquest in January last year, the Pembrokeshire coroner Mark Layton was told that paramedics had noticed bruising to an ankle, heel and knee. Dylan’s legs were swollen and there were red spots on his skin. Meningitis was suspected but a post-mortem examination revealed a number of odd findings. Dylan had anaemia and some of his teeth were loose. The pathologist, Dr Deryk James, concluded that the cause of death was a long-term vitamin C deficiency, commonly referred to as scurvy. | At his inquest in January last year, the Pembrokeshire coroner Mark Layton was told that paramedics had noticed bruising to an ankle, heel and knee. Dylan’s legs were swollen and there were red spots on his skin. Meningitis was suspected but a post-mortem examination revealed a number of odd findings. Dylan had anaemia and some of his teeth were loose. The pathologist, Dr Deryk James, concluded that the cause of death was a long-term vitamin C deficiency, commonly referred to as scurvy. |
| Dr David Tuthill, a paediatrician, said there was no evidence to suggest that Dylan could not eat a normal diet. “At no time was medical assistance sought for these problems,” he added. “This death was from scurvy, an easily preventable disease.” | Dr David Tuthill, a paediatrician, said there was no evidence to suggest that Dylan could not eat a normal diet. “At no time was medical assistance sought for these problems,” he added. “This death was from scurvy, an easily preventable disease.” |
| The inquest was told that the boy’s parents had thought he was suffering from “growing pains” and gave him painkillers. They maintained that he had not died of scurvy and sought help from a Belgian expert, who questioned the findings. | The inquest was told that the boy’s parents had thought he was suffering from “growing pains” and gave him painkillers. They maintained that he had not died of scurvy and sought help from a Belgian expert, who questioned the findings. |
| The coroner’s officer, Jeremy Davies, outlined the little that was known of Dylan’s life. He was born in 2003 and Julie Seabridge returned to work as an IT teacher at a secondary school in Cardigan, Ceredigion, shortly afterwards. In 2006, she tripped at work, and sustained an injury; she was registered as being off sick until 2009, when she left her post. Glynn Seabridge also had health problems and Dylan and his brother were both educated at home. | The coroner’s officer, Jeremy Davies, outlined the little that was known of Dylan’s life. He was born in 2003 and Julie Seabridge returned to work as an IT teacher at a secondary school in Cardigan, Ceredigion, shortly afterwards. In 2006, she tripped at work, and sustained an injury; she was registered as being off sick until 2009, when she left her post. Glynn Seabridge also had health problems and Dylan and his brother were both educated at home. |
| The inquest was told that Dylan had failed to attend a developmental check with a childcare team in 2006, and attempts by healthcare workers to rearrange the appointment were rebuffed by his parents. | The inquest was told that Dylan had failed to attend a developmental check with a childcare team in 2006, and attempts by healthcare workers to rearrange the appointment were rebuffed by his parents. |
| Although Dylan was registered as a patient at a doctors’ surgery, there was no record of his ever being seen. The family had registered Dylan with a dentist in 2007 but he had never visited. The coroner gave an open verdict but confirmed that he believed the boy had died of scurvy. | Although Dylan was registered as a patient at a doctors’ surgery, there was no record of his ever being seen. The family had registered Dylan with a dentist in 2007 but he had never visited. The coroner gave an open verdict but confirmed that he believed the boy had died of scurvy. |
| Moves had been made to prosecute Dylan’s parents, who are both in their 40s, for neglect. But the Crown Prosecution Service eventually decided not to pursue the case because of concerns about the health of both parents and because the case was not considered to be in the public interest. | Moves had been made to prosecute Dylan’s parents, who are both in their 40s, for neglect. But the Crown Prosecution Service eventually decided not to pursue the case because of concerns about the health of both parents and because the case was not considered to be in the public interest. |
| A lengthy and convoluted attempt to establish what happened has rumbled on since Dylan’s death. A serious case review was launched and the agencies involved each completed their own investigations. But Pembrokeshire council said the serious case review was not completed because of the criminal proceedings and changes to the rules surrounding safeguarding children in Wales. Instead, a “concise child practice review” was commissioned by the regional safeguarding children board, which is due to be published shortly. | A lengthy and convoluted attempt to establish what happened has rumbled on since Dylan’s death. A serious case review was launched and the agencies involved each completed their own investigations. But Pembrokeshire council said the serious case review was not completed because of the criminal proceedings and changes to the rules surrounding safeguarding children in Wales. Instead, a “concise child practice review” was commissioned by the regional safeguarding children board, which is due to be published shortly. |
| The draft of the serious case review, written in 2013 and leaked to the BBC in Wales, reveals that there may have been a chance for the authorities to spot Dylan’s condition. In 2010, Julie Seabridge was involved in an employment tribunal with Ceredigion council. Council officials told counterparts in Pembrokeshire that two boys were being home-educated by the Seabridges and raised concerns about Ms Seabridge’s health. But Dylan was not seen. | The draft of the serious case review, written in 2013 and leaked to the BBC in Wales, reveals that there may have been a chance for the authorities to spot Dylan’s condition. In 2010, Julie Seabridge was involved in an employment tribunal with Ceredigion council. Council officials told counterparts in Pembrokeshire that two boys were being home-educated by the Seabridges and raised concerns about Ms Seabridge’s health. But Dylan was not seen. |
| A well-placed council source said that officials did try to visit Dylan but were denied access to him. They had no evidence that he was being mistreated so did not have the power to force the Seabridges to show them the child. | A well-placed council source said that officials did try to visit Dylan but were denied access to him. They had no evidence that he was being mistreated so did not have the power to force the Seabridges to show them the child. |
| The draft says that laws on home education needed to be strengthened. The Welsh government said it would publish guidance to local authorities on the issue of home education soon, but there were no plans to introduce a statutory register. | The draft says that laws on home education needed to be strengthened. The Welsh government said it would publish guidance to local authorities on the issue of home education soon, but there were no plans to introduce a statutory register. |
| A spokesman for Pembrokeshire council said: “The death of a child is a tragedy and matter of great concern. We are currently following the process of the child practice review. This is a multi-agency review into the death of the child. We are unable to comment on the contents of the review until that process is complete.” | A spokesman for Pembrokeshire council said: “The death of a child is a tragedy and matter of great concern. We are currently following the process of the child practice review. This is a multi-agency review into the death of the child. We are unable to comment on the contents of the review until that process is complete.” |