It was a tragedy that simply didn’t have to happen.
Bethan James, the 21-year-old daughter of former England cricketer Steve James, died from sepsis after a series of serious medical oversights.
Now, a coroner has confirmed what her devastated family feared all along — that she could have survived if she’d received the proper care in time.
Multiple Hospital Visits, But No Answers
In the days leading up to her death in February 2020, Bethan had made several visits to the hospital.
She was unwell and getting worse, but each time, she was sent home without the correct diagnosis or appropriate treatment.
Her condition was serious, but it wasn’t taken seriously.
A Family Torn Apart by Delays
On the day Bethan’s health drastically declined, her mum Jane James called 999.
A rapid response paramedic came to the house but categorized the emergency as a low-priority “P3” situation, despite the obvious severity of Bethan’s condition.
This meant no urgent backup was requested and no warning was given to the hospital that she was critically ill.
Ambulance Hand-Off That Made Things Worse
When Bethan finally arrived at University Hospital Wales in Cardiff, she was taken to the general “majors” unit instead of the resuscitation area.
The coroner said hospital staff were affected by “cognitive bias,” meaning they didn’t treat her case with the urgency it deserved because she hadn’t arrived with a formal emergency alert.
An important lactate reading, which could have signaled her critical state sooner, wasn’t obtained until an hour after she arrived. By then, the delay had already cost precious time.
A Devastating Conclusion from the Coroner
Senior Coroner Patricia Morgan didn’t mince words.
She said that if the ambulance team had acted faster, and if Bethan had been sent straight to resus, she likely would not have gone into cardiac arrest.
And more importantly, she would still be alive.
“On balance, I find that Bethan would not have died,” Ms. Morgan concluded.
A Life Cut Short by Sepsis, Pneumonia, and Crohn’s
A post-mortem confirmed that Bethan died due to a mix of sepsis, pneumonia, and complications from Crohn’s disease — which she had only been diagnosed with a few months earlier.
But throughout her multiple hospital visits, sepsis had gone undetected.
A Mother’s Heartbreaking Testimony
During the inquest, Jane James told the court she believed her daughter’s condition had been overlooked again and again.
She said doctors were dismissive of Bethan’s symptoms, and their failure to act had heartbreaking consequences.
“As a mum, it’s devastating to know her life could have been saved,” she said.
Jane described her daughter as a kind, smart, and beautiful young woman who was studying journalism and would have made a brilliant journalist one day.
A Father’s Silent Grief from Afar
At the time Bethan took a serious turn, her father Steve James — a respected sports journalist — was covering the Six Nations rugby match in Dublin.
Due to weather delays, he couldn’t return home in time to see his daughter before she passed.
A cruel twist in an already unbearable situation.
A Final Verdict with a Call for Change
The coroner gave a narrative conclusion, pointing out that Bethan had lost trust in the medical system after repeated dismissals during her earlier hospital visits.
That hesitation in returning, combined with delayed responses from paramedics and hospital staff, cost her the critical care window she needed.
Ms. Morgan ended the hearing by expressing her sincere condolences to Steve and Jane James, who had been present throughout the emotionally draining proceedings.