A Lancashire mother who suspects her young son's death almost 30 years ago may have been connected to sewage contamination at a beach near Blackpool has finally obtained his medical records after a six-month wait.
Rachael Bell, 61, from Torrisholme on the outskirts of Morecambe, spent decades believing she was to blame for the death of her son Matthew, who passed away aged just under four in 1997. Matthew initially experienced diarrhoea and severe stomach cramps before his condition became critical.
He was diagnosed with E. coli O157, amongst the most hazardous strains of the bacteria, and subsequently developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a rare complication that can result in kidney failure. Matthew's younger brother Tom also fell ill with the same infection but fortunately made a full recovery.
Decades of Guilt and a Fateful Beach Visit
Matthew's health worsened and he was transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. Following several harrowing weeks, he slipped into a coma and was relocated to intensive care before his tragic death towards the end of October.
Rachael, who formerly worked as a cook and housekeeper, explained that the heartbreaking loss was compounded by interrogation from a local authority environmental health officer investigating the origin of the E. coli. She recalled him questioning what the boys had consumed, where she had purchased food and her methods of food preparation.
She told the Mirror: "He was abrupt," adding: "He was saying 'where do you keep your meat?'" But Rachael also informed him that the boys had visited a beach near Blackpool shortly before falling ill, where they had been playing in the sea and on the sand. She remembers being told: "He said 'no way it'll survive in water'."
However, scientific evidence demonstrates E. coli can survive in water for prolonged periods, with studies indicating it can remain viable for up to 91 days. At the time, Rachael was completely unaware and spent decades believing Matthew's death was somehow down to her.
A New Perspective and a Long Wait for Records
"I have lived all my life thinking it was me to blame," she said.
That perception shifted earlier this year when Rachael watched Channel 4's factual drama 'Dirty Business', which examined campaigners' attempts to highlight concerns regarding raw sewage being released by water companies. The programme also featured the real-life story of Heather Preen, an eight year old girl who died after contracting the same strain of E.coli as Matthew while on a beach holiday with her family in 1999.
Heather's mum, Julie Maughan, believed her daughter may have been exposed to sewage from a storm outflow and criticised officials over their response. Watching the programme led Rachael to re-examine her own suspicions surrounding what happened to Matthew.
She approached Alder Hey Hospital in March this year to obtain a copy of his medical records. Despite completing forms four times and making numerous phone calls and sending emails, she was kept waiting for months.
Records Released After Intervention
"I want justice for him, I think he deserves that," Rachael says. "The long wait has compounded the agony. It made it feel like his life wasn't important."
Alder Hey said in a statement: "We don't comment on individual cases." Yet following the Mirror's intervention, the hospital finally released Matthew's medical records to Rachael after a six-month wait.
The documents stretch to more than 500 pages, which Rachael says she will now work through as she presses on with her quest for answers surrounding what happened to her son almost three decades ago.
