The family of Oli Coppock, a 34-year-old fitness fanatic, has filed a lawsuit against the NHS after doctors at Warrington Hospital allegedly dismissed his severe brain condition as a virus. The failure to diagnose hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid on the brain, resulted in catastrophic brain stem damage, leaving Mr. Coppock paralyzed and non-verbal for over two years.
Mr. Coppock first experienced symptoms of dizziness and fatigue in May 2024. Despite a recent history of brain surgery and radiotherapy, he attended Warrington Hospital's A&E department with an overnight bag, anticipating admission. However, doctors reportedly told him he had a virus and sent him home with instructions to take paracetamol. Shortly thereafter, he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Subsequent medical evaluations revealed that Mr. Coppock had developed hydrocephalus. A later CT scan indicated that the condition had progressed to the point where a standard drainage procedure was no longer an option, and he was left with inoperable brain stem damage. This has resulted in locked-in syndrome, a condition where the patient is aware but unable to move or communicate verbally, relying on eye movements for expression. He also requires a tracheostomy for breathing support and a feeding tube.
Mr. Coppock's father, Stephen Coppock, expressed his devastation, stating that the hospital's initial failure to perform basic checks, such as a CT scan, destroyed his son's life. He claims hospital management was reluctant to acknowledge their errors, allowing his son to remain in a neurological rehabilitation center for nearly a year before an internal report detailed multiple failures. "They robbed him of his life. Every day is like a lifetime for him as his mind is still completely active and he knows exactly what is going on but his body can't respond," Stephen Coppock said.
Mr. Coppock's medical history includes a benign growth near his brain stem, detected during a routine scan for multiple sclerosis (MS) in May 2023. He underwent surgery in November 2023 and proton beam therapy in early 2024, recovering well and even resuming a DJ residency. His family believes that if the hydrocephalus had been identified during his May 2024 A&E visit, a simple CT scan would have revealed the fluid buildup, which could have been treated with a procedure that would likely have led to a quick recovery and a normal life.
An internal investigation report from Warrington Hospital acknowledged failures, including not ordering a CT scan, not escalating his case based on his medical history, and not consulting senior colleagues. The Trust has since admitted that a CT scan should have been performed and that the failure to do so constituted a breach of duty. They have accepted full liability for Mr. Coppock's condition, and an interim payment is being arranged to cover specialized care and equipment following court approval.
"We are deeply sorry that Mr. Coppock did not receive the standard of care that should be expected and we recognise the distress and lasting impact on patients and their families when harm is caused," a spokesperson for North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust stated. Tanzeela Aslam, the family's lawyer, highlighted how preventable errors and delays in admitting liability have had devastating and life-changing consequences for Mr. Coppock and his family, depriving him of essential therapies and treatments.