Family of fitness fanatic, 34, left paralysed after doctors dismissed his deadly brain condition for a virus sue NHS

The family of a fitness fanatic left paralysed after doctors dismissed his deadly brain condition as a virus have sued the NHS.

For more than two years Oli Coppock, 34, has been non-verbal and only able to communicate using the muscles in his eyes after an A&E doctor failed to diagnose his condition.

Mr Coppock, from Warrington in Cheshire, began experiencing dizziness and fatigue in May 2024 and attended Warrington Hospital with a packed overnight bag.

Despite his files indicating he had recently undergone brain surgery and radiotherapy only months earlier, doctors dismissed his symptoms and failed to order a CT scan.

He was told he had a virus and to go home and take some paracetamol.

But shortly thereafter, Mr Coppock had a cardiac arrest and it was found he had developed hydrocephalus, or fluid on the brain.

Hydrocephalus is typically treated through a procedure to drain the fluid; however, a later CT scan revealed this was not an option for fitness fanatic Mr Coppock, who had actually been left with inoperable brain stem damage.

Mr Coppock was left paralysed with a condition called locked-in syndrome, leaving him unable to talk, eat or move.

The family of fitness fanatic Oli Coppock - who was left paralysed after doctors dismissed his deadly brain condition as a virus - have sued the NHS

Mr Coppock was left with a condition called locked-in syndrome, leaving him unable to talk, eat or move

He also relies on a tracheostomy to support his breathing and is being fed through a tube.

Now, Mr Coppock's devastated family are taking legal action against Warrington Hospital, where he was dismissed.

Stephen Coppock, Mr Coppock's father, has claimed hospital bosses were happy to let his son 'waste away' in an independent neurological rehab centre for almost a year before finally admitting their wrongdoing after a damning internal report revealed a catalogue of failures.

He said he hopes his son can now access specialist equipment and treatment after an interim payment was agreed - but fears it could be 'too little, too late.'

Stephen, 65, said the hospital should 'hold their heads in shame'.

He said: 'As far as I am concerned, the health service that he trusted to protect him has destroyed my boy by failing to do the basics and his life was ruined at 32 now he is a shell of his former self.

'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.

'His life plans have been obliterated and he is living a permanent nightmare. There is no space worse in the world for a human to occupy.'

Stephen Coppock, Mr Coppock's father, has claimed hospital bosses were happy to let his son 'waste away' (Pictured: Mr Coppock and his father, Stephen)

Mr Coppock's ordeal began in May 2023 following a routine scan for an ongoing diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) which detected a small benign growth near his brain stem

Stephen added he can only describe his son as living in 'hell,' and compared his situation to Munch's famous Scream painting. He said it is simply 'devastating' to see as a dad.

Mr Coppock's ordeal began in May 2023 following a routine scan for an ongoing diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) which detected a small benign growth near his brain stem.

In November 2023, he underwent surgery to treat the growth and started a course of preventative Proton Beam therapy at The Christie in Manchester the following year.

Following the radiation treatment, life went back to normal for Mr Coppock - who had even landed a weekly DJ residency playing in a venue near his home in Warrington.

But in May 2024, everything changed following a trip to Warrington Hospital A&E for symptoms including dizziness, fatigue and vomiting. Mr Coppock waited for four hours before being triaged.

'It was obvious something was seriously wrong,' Stephen said. 'And it wasn't just a virus and needed further investigation or at least a scan.

'I was so angry when they sent him home Oli knew he was sick he brough an overnight bag with him as he was fully expecting to be admitted.'

A later CT scan conducted at a different hospital found Mr Coppock had hydrocephalus, a condition which occurs when there is excessive fluid on the brain.

Mr Coppock had previously been diagnosed with a slow-growing brain tumour, but recovered well from his treatment

Stephen believes if the doctor had ordered a simple CT scan originally, it would have revealed his son's fluid on the brain and could have been a 'simple fix'.

He said: 'They even admitted as such in their report. Oli would now be enjoying meals out with his friends, long walks, seeing his brother play football, going to the gym, Djing and holidays in Ibiza.

'Instead, he is a prisoner in his own body stuck in a bed staring at the ceiling and can only talk to his family by blinking.'

Stephen added the delays and refusal by the hospital to take accountability had only compounded his son's suffering.

He said: 'This wasn't just a bad day the hospital just didn't get the basics right and my son has paid a terrible price and his life as he knew it is essentially over.

'He trusted them and believed them to keep him safe and now he is stuck in a room virtually paralysed with breathing tubes keeping him alive.

'Oli is only in this position because of their failings in the first place and for them to starve him of any stimulation or specialist rehab equipment for so long which would have made his life slightly bearable is unforgivable.'

Mr Coppock was left unable to move his body after developing a spasticity that caused his muscles, limbs, head and neck to become stiff.

Mr Coppock's family believe if a CT scan would have been originally ordered by doctors at Warrington Hospital, it would have revealed fluid on his brain and could have been a 'simple fix' 

He has remained between hospital and a specialist neurological care home ever since.

An Internal Patient Safety Incident Investigation report carried out by Warrington Hospital has since revealed a catalogue of failings including not ordering a CT scan, failing to escalate his case based on past medical history and not seeking advice from senior colleagues.

The Trust admitted in their report had a scan happened it would likely have revealed the fluid on his brain which could have been easily drained leading to a quick recovery and normal life.

Stephen said: 'It beggars belief that after admitting this that he had to wait nearly a year for them to admit they were at fault which likely caused irreparable damage to Oli. It is disgusting behaviour.'

After Mr Coppock's family took legal action, North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust - which runs Warrington Hospital - took full liability for his condition.

The Trust admitted a CT scan 'should have been performed' and it was a 'breach of duty' to fail to do so, and surgery before Mr Coppock's 'catastrophic' deterioration' would have 'prevented' respiratory arrest.

They are now arranging an interim payment to help pay for specialist care and equipment following court approval last month.

The family's lawyer Tanzeela Aslam, Head of Medical Negligence at Express Solicitors said: 'Oli's case illustrates how preventable errors within the NHS can have devastating and life-changing consequences for individuals and their families.

'The impact of the initial failings was further compounded by delays in the defendant admitting liability.

'During this time Oli was deprived of access to funds for essential therapies and treatments that could have improved his quality of life. A life that has already been significantly and prematurely shortened as a result of the Defendant's negligence.'

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Warrington Hospital said: 'We are deeply sorry that Mr Coppock did not receive that standard of care that should be expected and we recognise the distress and lasting impact on patients and their families when harm is caused.'