National Chess Champion Michael Uriely Died Following An Asthma Attack Just Days After Being Discharged From the Royal Free Hospital, London

An inquest into the death of a gifted nine-year-old, who died days after his parents begged hospital staff at the Royal Free Hospital in London not to discharge him, will begin on Wednesday (March 15).

National Chess Champion Michael Uriely, died following an asthma attack on August 25 six days after his frantic parents Roy and Ayelet twice rushed him to hospital after he suffered violent coughing and vomiting fits.

After Michael’s death, Roy and Ayelet, from Camden, London, instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to examine his care under two NHS GPs at St John’s Wood Medical Practice, a private consultant paediatrician and Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, including a doctor’s decision to discharge the youngster on August 20 despite their pleas to keep him in for observation and treatment.

Ayelet, 52, said: “Michael was an extraordinary boy, both in personality and intelligence who came to us after four gruelling years of fertility treatment. He doted on his younger twin sisters, who adored him, and always joined in with their games.

“At a young age it quickly became noticeable that Michael was highly gifted with a tendency to excel. As a toddler he taught himself to read and write and enjoyed challenging himself with activities more common for school children than those his own age. His IQ may have put him in the top 0.3 per cent of the population, but he was as sporty as he was academic. He delighted in every moment on the sports field playing football, cricket and tennis where he was as gracious in defeat as he was in victory.

“Michael had an exceptional life ahead of him which, if his brief childhood was anything to go by, he would have relished and lived to the full.

“He was a wonderful son to us whose sweetness of character and remarkable abilities made our lives complete and we are devastated beyond words over his unexpected and tragic death.

“Now we would just like answers as to why he died, and what, if anything could have been done to prevent it.”

Michael, who was diagnosed with asthma when he was two-and-a-half-years-old began learning how to play chess just six months later, competing at local, regional and then national level as he grew up, winning the title of National Chess Champion for his age group twice at eight and nine years of age.

In the months before his death, Michael’s asthma attacks had grown more frequent and he had developed frequent coughing fits which lasted between five and 10 minutes and left him struggling to breathe.

He was admitted to the Royal Free Hospital on the afternoon of August 18 but was discharged shortly after arrival. His parents returned to hospital where he was re-admitted in the early hours of August 19 after a bout of severe coughing and vomiting at home. He was discharged again on August 20 and died five days later after annual board games festival, the Mind Sports Olympiad, where he had been competing. The competition had to be stopped short due to Michael’s fits of severe coughing.

Friends and fellow chess players paid tribute to the exceptional youngster with a memorial chess tournament on April 17 last year, a month after what would have been his 10th birthday on March 14. The event, hosted by Michael's School, Westminster Under, raised almost £10,000 for charity Asthma UK and the Super Rapidplay at the London Chess Classic 2016 was dedicated to his memory.

Expert Opinion

“Michael’s death has left a gaping hole in the lives of his parents, sisters, friends and those who knew him through his extraordinary talent and passion for chess.

“While nothing can change what has happened to Michael, we hope the inquest into his death will shed some light on the standard of care he received in the months before his death from GPs, private doctors and staff at The Royal Free Hospital.

“It is incredibly important that if anything could have been done to prevent Michael’s death, those involved in his care learn from it so that no one else suffers as he did and that no parent suffers the same indescribable loss as Roy and Ayelet continue to feel today.” Leena Savjani - Partner

A three-day inquest into Michael’s death will begin on Wednesday (March 15) at Westminster Coroner’s Court before HM Coroner Shirley Radcliffe.

If somebody close to you has died because of negligent medical care, our clinical negligence solicitors could help you to claim the compensation you deserve. Visit our Fatal Medical Negligence Claims & Inquests page for more information.