Rowan Thompson, 18, was days away from standing trial for murder (Picture: MEN Media)
A teenager accused of killing their mother died hours after it was revealed they had a ‘life-threatening’ condition, an inquest has heard.
Rowan Thompson, who identified as non-binary and used the pronoun ‘they’, was days away from standing trial for murder.
The 18-year-old was found dead in their room at a secure mental health unit at Prestwich Hospital on October 3, 2020.
Rowan had collapsed a week earlier but doctors put it down to a change in their medication.
Blood tests later revealed Rowan was actually suffering from ‘severely low’ levels of potassium.
Dr Stephen Morley told the inquest it was a ‘life-threatening’ condition and should have been treated as a medical emergency.
The toxicologist said Rowan would likely have survived had they been given intravenous potassium.
Coroner Joanne Kearsley said the results of those tests ‘were not communicated to anyone’ caring for Rowan on the Gardener Unit, and they died the following day.
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Giving evidence, Rowan’s father Marc Thompson said his child, who had autism, was a ‘bright, fun individual’.
He told the hearing that he and Rowan’s mother separated when Rowan was just ten years old, and they had gone to live with her.
Jurors were told Rowan’s mental health deteriorated following the death of their uncle, and they spent time in a number of mental health hospitals, before moving to live with their father in Barnsley, West Yorkshire.
Mr Thompson said his son went to visit their mum on their 17th birthday in June 2019, but they ‘killed’ her on the day they were due to come home.
‘It was obvious he was in a mental state,’ Mr Thompson told the inquest. ‘We will never know what happened, we can only surmise.’
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Rowan was arrested and detained under the mental health act, before they were admitted to the Gardener Unit.
Mr Thompson said Rowan’s weight ‘fluctuated’ during their time on the psychiatric unit, but he had no concern about their physical health.
Dr Isabel Nash told the inquest she had given Rowan a prescription of antibiotic medicine flucloxacillin to treat an infection, which can cause low levels of potassium, but the GP said the dose was not ‘high’.
Jurors also heard Rowan had lost 25.6kg in weight over nine months at the unit, but it was ‘not a concern’ as Rowan reported eating well and put it down to ‘stress from the upcoming trial’.
‘I felt there were reasons that could explain Rowan gaining and losing weight,’ Dr Nash said.
The inquest continues.
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Rowan Thompson was days away from standing trial for murder when they died at a secure mental health unit.
