A fit and healthy teenager who went under the knife for a deformed ear died after her vocal cords 'slammed shut' due to rare complications from general anaesthetic, a court heard. Holly Fairchild was admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital for elective surgery on her left ear, due to anxiety she was experiencing about how it looked after an infection from a cartilage piercing. The 'very active' 16-year-old, from Haddenham, a small village near Oxford, was a talented footballer and had previously gone under general anaesthesia with no issue.
But on Friday (June 21), St Pancras Coroner's Court heard she developed severe form of a common issue in children, where the vocal cords become restricted, which can sometimes have fatal consequences. Holly grew up in a loving family, with two brothers and adoring parents who remembered her as a 'confident, fun, and, sometimes, loud young lady' who 'gave her best and never stopped smiling'. The 'top goalscorer' loved animals and had already learned how to drive a tractor and digger, with her sights set on a driving license before she headed to a local sixth form.
READ MORE: Met Police officer sacked after sending 1,000 texts to ex-girlfriend in 3 weeks "She really was the best of us and so much more. We all miss our beautiful Hollypops beyond words. She has left an enormous hole in our hearts," said her family.
"We found this whole process difficult to go through. We had to ask the NHS Trust so many questions that still remain unanswered..
