The tragic death of 29-year-old Andrew Heys from Salford, Manchester, has raised significant concerns after a coroner ruled that his passing was linked to a devastating reaction to a Covid-19 booster vaccine he received in December 2021. Andrew developed a rare autoimmune condition known as Post-Vaccination Autoimmune Encephalopathy (PVAE) following the jab, which caused severe physical and mental health issues, including memory loss, seizures, insomnia, delusions, and paranoia. These symptoms were so debilitating that they were listed as contributing factors in his death, alongside drowning, after he fell into the Manchester Ship Canal on March 12, 2024. The coroner’s report highlighted the profound impact of the vaccine reaction on Andrew’s life and the circumstances surrounding his tragic end.
Andrew’s struggles began shortly after he received the Covid-19 booster vaccine in late 2021. The coroner’s investigation revealed that his reaction to the vaccine was “very badly” and led to the development of PVAE, a condition that progressively worsened over two years. The disease caused significant damage to his brain, leading to cognitive decline and severe mental health issues. The coroner, John Pollard, described the effects of the condition as “devastating” and emphasized how it completely altered Andrew’s quality of life. By the time of his death, the combination of his physical and mental struggles had become unbearable, ultimately leading to his decision to end his life.
On the day of his death, Andrew made a desperate call to the emergency services, dialing 999 in the early hours of the morning. However, the call was problematic due to poor signal strength, and Andrew, feeling defeated, told the handler, “forget it,” before hanging up. Moments later, he climbed over the bridge parapet and fell into the Manchester Ship Canal, where he drowned. His body was not found for four days. The coroner’s inquest later revealed critical failures in the handling of Andrew’s emergency call. The 999 operator, an on-call locum GP working for the out-of-hours service BARDOC, was unable to hear Andrew clearly due to the weak connection. Instead of transferring the call to the Ambulance Service, as protocols required, the GP closed the call. This oversight meant that Andrew’s plea for help went unresponded to, and he was left to face his final moments alone.
The inquest also exposed broader systemic issues within the healthcare system, particularly regarding the lack of proper training and the inability of healthcare professionals to access patient records across different IT systems. The GP who handled Andrew’s call admitted that she had never been trained on how to follow the correct pathways for emergency situations, leading to the critical error. Furthermore, she expressed confusion about accessing Andrew’s GP records, highlighting a common issue where healthcare providers cannot share patient data effectively. The coroner criticized this failure, calling it a “common complaint” that one health professional cannot access records held by another. He emphasized the urgent need for better integration of NHS IT systems to prevent such lapses in the future.
The coroner’s findings have sparked concerns about the safety and efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines, though it is important to note that severe reactions like Andrew’s are extremely rare. The coroner’s report stressed that while most people experience mild or no side effects from the Covid-19 vaccines, Andrew’s case served as a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with any medical intervention. The inquest also shed light on the urgent need for improved mental health support for individuals experiencing adverse reactions to vaccines, as well as better training and resources for healthcare professionals handling emergencies.
In response to the findings, the coroner issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report, urging the Department of Health and Social Care and BARDOC to address the systemic failures that contributed to Andrew’s death. The report called for mandatory training for healthcare professionals on emergency protocols and better integration of patient records across NHS systems. Andrew’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities of medical interventions and the critical need for a more cohesive and responsive healthcare system. His legacy, though marked by tragedy, may help prevent similar incidents in the future and ensure that no one else faces the same desperate circumstances he endured.
