by Adam Williams
awilliams@thekmgroup.co.uk

A Chestfield family continue to wait for answers after the inquest into their son’s death was adjourned for a fourth time.

Adam Scott broke both legs when he lost control of his Ford Fiesta and crashed into a Renault Megane on Chestfield Road on February 4, 2007.

The 17-year-old Barton Court Grammar School student was treated for three days at the QEQM Hospital in Margate before his condition deteriorated and he died on February 7 from a condition known as fulminant fat embolism syndrome.

Coroner Rebecca Cobb adjourned proceedings at Sandwich Guildhall on Thursday to consider her verdict in light of evidence revealing gaps in Adam’s medical notes.

His parents, Deborah Scott and Jon Gymer, from Molehill Road, Chestfield are expected to take legal advice before Ms Cobb’s findings are delivered next month.

Speaking outside the hearing, Jon said: “We feel as though Adam was failed by the system and let down by the care he received.

“For us, the wait goes on for an answer almost five years after he died. Myself and Deborah will now have to sit down and consider our options.”

QEQM lead consultant, Dr Barclay Tofte, was questioned at length by Adam’s parents over diagnoses about his condition.

Hours after he was admitted, his condition quickly deteriorated and he was put into a coma and transferred to intensive care. Initial CT scans showed swelling to his brain and an operation to repair his broken femurs was carried out two days later.

Dr Tofte said: “At the time, I wasn’t 100% certain that fulminant fat embolism syndrome was the cause of Adam’s illness. He had been in a serious road traffic accident and sustained two very severe fractures, so there’s every chance it was. But, there’s no blood test that can be done to prove it and we were also concerned there might have been severe internal bleeding going on to affect his other organs.”