The parents of three-year-old Ryleigh Hillcoat-Bee, who died from rhabdomyolysis, are outraged after learning her life could have been saved. The rare condition, affecting 1 in 200,000 people, caused muscle breakdown, and Ryleigh died from complications three months after being discharged from Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
Coroner Alan Wilson determined that doctors missed critical “red flags” and failed to recognize the signs of a neuromuscular issue. Despite abnormal blood tests showing high levels of Creatine Kinase, they misdiagnosed her with a chest infection or hepatitis. Medical experts suggested the hospital should have consulted a neuromuscular specialist, which could have led to an earlier diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis and potentially saved her life.
