Retired firefighter died after feeding tube inserted into his lung instead of stomach

A 'pillar of the community' retired firefighter and councillor died from pneumonia after a feeding tube inserted into his lung instead of his stomach wasn't spotted on an X-ray check by an untrained junior doctor, an inquest heard.

The doctor's error led to up to 200ml of fluid food being pumped into Terence Butler's lung for 15 minutes. He died four weeks later. A coroner concluded Mr Butler died 'as a consequence of misadventure contributed to by neglect' after an inquest hearing on Friday. His family, speaking afterwards, said he served as a firefighter for 25 years, saving lives in the process.

The so-called 'never event' at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan in January, 2024, led to a deterioration in Mr Butler's condition and he died on February 16 this year, aged 83. The NHS class 'never events' as incidents that shouldn't ever happen in a medical setting.

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At the inquest at Bolton Coroner's Court, his daughter Elizabeth Harrison said the family believe the 'shocking incident' contributed to his premature death. "The family are struggling to come to terms with his death," she said. "The family feel that he was suddenly taken from us."

The hospital trust apologised and admitted 'on this occasion, standards of care were not met, as a result of which we failed the patient and the family'.

Mr Butler was born in Wigan and worked in a colliery before becoming a firefighter. He retired in the 1990s due to an injury and became a councillor in Wigan.

Coroner Alexander Frodsham said an X-ray of the tube to check if it was in Mr Butler's stomach was 'erroneously interpreted'