Hospital cremates baby by mistake

The baby boy's parents agreed to allow his body to be examined to discover the cause of his fatal birth defects. His mother, Michelle Franco, stipulated he be returned for a family funeral and burial.

After an agonising nine-week wait, the couple contacted the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton to discover baby Tyler had already been cremated.

Tearful Michelle, 19, said: "We never even had the chance to say goodbye."

Her partner, Nick Bridger, 21, said: "Tyler was my first. It was like a dream come true when Michelle got pregnant."

Problems with the baby's development were spotted during a routine five-month scan at the Royal Sussex in May.

Michelle was sent to King's College Hospital in London for examination.

It confirmed Tyler was seriously disabled with arthrogryposis, meaning his limbs and nervous system would never develop.

Michelle was told he would not survive to full term.

The couple, of Belgrave Street, Brighton, made the heart-rending decision to terminate and Michelle began a course of tablets to induce early labour.

Tyler was born at 10am on June 4 at the Royal Sussex. He died during or shortly after birth.

The couple, Michelle's mother Susan Franco and other close family members spent a day together with Tyler.

The hospital photographer took a photo and prints were taken of his tiny feet to be entered into a book of remembrance.

Michelle was asked if she would agree to a post-mortem. She was told it could help to establish if the couple could have more children without the risk of the condition.

Michelle said: "They told me I could decide what to do with him. I stayed with him all day and had him in a basket next to me and we took photographs.

"I then signed the form agreeing to the post-mortem but I said I wanted him back in one piece.

"I wanted him to have a funeral and be buried at Angel's Corner in Bear Road cemetery, Brighton, next to Nick's sister Chloe."

Tyler, accompanied by a Pudsey Bear teddy, was sent to St George's Hospital in Tooting, London, for the examination.

The family were told he would be returned within six weeks for the funeral.

After nine weeks they were told the body was back at the Royal Sussex. But when Nick and Mrs Franco asked to visit, they were told the body was "not fit to view".

The following day, Michelle asked her mother to call the hospital again.

Susan said: "They asked if Michelle would go to the hospital but she didn't want to. They then said could someone be with her and wait until she gets a call.

"I took the call and passed the phone to Michelle and she went into the garden."

Michelle said: "They said 'I'm sorry to tell you this - your baby was cremated on Monday'.

"I couldn't believe they had gone behind our backs like that. They gave us the choice and I said we wanted him back. Instead, they say they have cremated him.

"They haven't offered me any explanation or anything. I can't believe this is happening to me.

"Part of me thinks they have kept him secretly for research and he hasn't been cremated at all. I can't believe anything they say. I don't trust them now."

An investigation by The Argus revealed the form the family signed was not completed properly.

Hospital managers admit the cremation should not have taken place before the family was contacted.

The Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust released a statement last night saying: "The trust has apologised unreservedly for its failure to contact Mr Bridger and Ms Franco about the arrangements made for the cremation.

"There has been a serious breakdown in communications within the trust and there can be no excuse for this failure.

"The interim chief executive, Anthony McKeever, has called for an immediate investigation to establish what went wrong.

"The trust has been in contact with Ms Franco and will keep her informed on progress made in the investigation."

Scaffolder Nick is so distressed at his son's fate he has been admitted to the hospital suffering from a serious stress-related condition.

He said: "We just want him to rest in peace."