Men died after receiving allegedly worm infected kidney transplants

An inquest is due to take place at Cardiff Coroner’s Court afterDarren Hughes from Bridgend and Robert Stuart from Cardiff died after being given allegedly infected kidneys during a transplant.

The solicitors for the families of the two men say they are desperately seeking answers after the tragic deaths.

Robert (Jim) Stuart aged 67 and Darren Hughes aged 42 had kidney transplants in November 2013 but after surgery their conditions began to deteriorate rapidly; they lost consciousness and died just over two weeks later says solicitors Irwin Mitchell

A post-mortem revealed they both died from an infection called Meningeoencephaltis which was caused by a parasitic worm known as Halicephalobus which lives in soil and commonly found in horses.

There have only been five reported cases in the world of people diagnosed with the infection, all have been fatal. The donor of the kidneys died from the same infection.

Several investigations have been carried out by University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff where both transplants took place, NHS Blood and Transplant and Public Health England and Public Health Wales are also involved.

Ruth Walker, Director of Nursing at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said, “This is a unique and tragic case and everyone at the health board extends their sincere and heartfelt sympathies to the families involved. The health board requested its own independent, external review to establish why these patients died. That report has been provided to the coroner’s office and we continue to support his investigation into these tragic deaths. It would be in appropriate to comment further ahead of the inquest.”