Coroner issues Report to Prevent Future Deaths following the Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy of Drew Greaves- Pimblett

A coroner has called for call handlers at an ambulance service to be given more guidance and assistance around when CPR is required, following the tragic death of a young man from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).

Drew Greaves-Pimblett was just 26 years old when he died suddenly last March because of SUDEP.  Today, Senior Coroner for the area of Sefton, St. Helens and Knowsley, Anita Bhardwaj, issued a Report to Prevent Future Deaths following the conclusion of the inquest. 

She found that there was a gap in the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) telephone triage process and that there is a need for further guidance and assistance for call handlers on probing questioning to make a more informed decision on whether a person is breathing and whether CPR is required.

Tragically, Drew was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor at his home. The call handler initially allocated an ambulance, but after confirmation that he was not breathing, following the NWAS pathway, the call handler deemed that resuscitation would not be effective. When the police arrived half an hour later, an officer conducted CPR. When the ambulance arrived, Drew was pronounced dead. 

Drew had complex needs due to his epilepsy, and his family did everything they could to keep him safe, making sure that he was never alone. His death due to SUDEP have left them devastated. 

Drew’s older sister, Abbie said: “Our family hopes that clearer guidance and better-informed decision-making could prevent other families from experiencing a similar loss.

“Drew’s story highlights a devastating truth: epilepsy is still not understood well enough, not supported well enough, and not taken seriously enough - both throughout a person’s life and, heartbreakingly, in their final moments. We want to share Drew’s story to honour his life, to raise awareness of SUDEP, and to call for meaningful change so that others living with epilepsy are better supported, protected, and informed.

“As a family, we were left trying to ensure that Drew was never alone, doing everything we could to keep him safe - while also juggling full-time work, parenting, and our own lives. This level of responsibility is simply not sustainable, and it highlights how poorly understood epilepsy still is as a condition, and how inadequate the support structures are for those living with it.

Drew was a true character - funny, clever, and deeply kind. He loved gaming, science, space, and learning about the universe. He had a quiet way of making people feel safe and understood, and he was loved fiercely by so many. He was not defined by his epilepsy - he was a husband, a son, a brother, an uncle, a grandson, and a friend.

He had lived with epilepsy for many years, yet like so many families, ours had limited awareness of SUDEP until it was too late. Drew’s death has changed our lives forever.”

Clare Pelham, Chief Executive at the Epilepsy Society said: “The tragic death of Drew Greaves-Pimblett, highlights once again the desperate need for epilepsy to be recognised within the healthcare system as a cliff-edge condition and for the response from emergency call handlers to be tailored accordingly. 

People with epilepsy need very specific support. It really is like walking along a cliff edge as the outcome of a seizure can be fatal. Emergency call handlers and 111 teams must be aware of epilepsy in its full context so that they can give informed advice that could save lives. 

Sadly, Drew's death is not an isolated incident. Another vibrant young man, Charlie Marriage also died when safety-net advice he was given during the 111 triaging system, failed to take into account the exceptional risks that epilepsy can present. 

We are not asking Health Secretary Wes Streeting for more money or miracle technology. We are asking him for something very simple and very powerful- to support staff across the NHS with better training to enable them to save lives of people with epilepsy. He owes that to both patients and staff who are devoted to doing their very best for those in their care.

Providing the right advice at the right time will save lives. And all of us stand ready to help him with that and prevent future tragic deaths.”

Drew leaves behind his wife Georgia, whom he had been with since they were just 14 years old and married to for only one year.  He also leaves behind his loving mum Julie, dad Andrew, stepdad Darren, three sisters, two brothers, four nephews and one niece and was a much-loved grandson to his four grandparents. He was surrounded by a wide circle of friends and extended family who are all struggling to come to terms with his sudden loss.