Young autistic man, 24, died of rare ear infection complication, inquest hears

A young man died after an ear infection developed into an abscess on the brain in a rare complication, an inquest has heard. Connor McPike, 24, died in the afternoon of February 13 this year after being found unresponsive in his room by his mother.

She raised concerns ahead of the inquest that telephone consultations they and had with their GP were 'not sufficient' and that if he was seen face-to-face he may have been taken to the hospital for quicker treatment. However, records shown later in the inquest by GP Dr Hari Sukhavasi outlined they had chosen to be treated via telephone consultation and they could have been seen face-to-face if they wanted to.

Connor lived at home on Devonshire Road, Atherton, and had a history of developing ear infections according to a statement from his mum, Claire Sutton, which was read out by area coroner Peter Sigee. She said that "he was very much loved and very sadly missed".

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Her statement said that he had been diagnosed with autism in his early 20s and was a 'quiet' boy who spent a lot of his time in his bedroom. In January this year the 24-year-old developed headaches and vomiting with Claire finding a lump behind his ear.

She said that Connor had been "refused" to be seen and instead he was prescribed antibiotics after a telephone consultation about his symptoms. She added she had begged him to go to A&E when his symptoms worsened but he would not listed to her but would have gone if told by the GP face-to-face.

After a few days on antibiotics Conner reported feeling a "bit better" on February 9. But, on the morning of February 13 Claire text Connor which went without