A WOMAN has told of her "devastation” after her "soulmate" died following a heart transplant.

Aaron Green, from Arundel, developed pulmonary hypertension, a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the heart, when he was a toddler.

The condition damaged his lungs and heart and when he was 24 he had a heart transplant.

Following surgery in June 2019, Aaron married his fiancée Julie, and it appeared that he was making a recovery.

Despite the surgery being a success, his body went on to reject his replacement organs. Aaron’s condition continued to deteriorate and he died aged 26, in July 2021.

Irwin Mitchell, a law firm specialising in public health, said Aaron’s death is part of a wider investigation into whether patients have been diagnosed with bacterial illnesses at the Royal Papworth Hospital.

The Argus: Aaron and his wife, Julie, at their wedding in 2020Aaron and his wife, Julie, at their wedding in 2020

Julie Green said Aaron had “suffered for years” but tried to stay positive.

The 28-year-old said: “It got to the point where he was admitted to hospital permanently while awaiting a transplant. There had been a few false alarms, so when we were told that a suitable match had been found, we were overjoyed.

“We couldn’t thank the surgeons enough for everything that they did to help Aaron. We had so many things we wanted to achieve, including getting married, and we thought the transplant would allow us to put the past behind us.

The Argus: Aaron getting a new bike in November 2019 after his transplantAaron getting a new bike in November 2019 after his transplant

“Aaron’s recovery was quite slow, but he’d just had major surgery so we didn’t think too much about it. But that all changed.

“Despite everything, Aaron tried to focus on the positives, but his condition started getting progressively worse until his body rejected the organs.

“Aaron was my soulmate and I still can’t believe he died less than a year after we married. He faced so much pain and suffering in his life, but always met the challenges he encountered with such courage and bravery.”

The Argus: Aaron in a hospice in February 2021Aaron in a hospice in February 2021

“It’s difficult to try and find the words to describe the last few months and trying to come to terms with what happened. We’d do anything to have Aaron back in our lives but we know that’s not possible.”

Jatinder Paul, an expert public health lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: “All of the families we represent, including Aaron’s wife Julie, were extremely relieved when they were told they would receive their transplants and believed the operations would be the start of a new and exciting chapter in their lives.

The lawyers want to establish whether baterial infections were involved.

He added: "Bacterial infections can clearly be incredibly dangerous, particularly for vulnerable patients, and their impact should never be downplayed."

“We’re now investigating these concerns and are determined to get all of the families that we represent the answers they deserve.”

A spokeswoman for Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, where Aaron was treated, in Cambridge, denied claims of a recorded outbreak at the hospital in the past.

She said: “Our thoughts are with Aaron’s family at this difficult time. There has never been a recorded outbreak of Mycobacterium chelonae at Royal Papworth Hospital and we are fully supporting the coroner’s enquiries.

“In 2019 we did identify cases of Mycobacterium abscessus, a different organism, and as part of our extensive investigations we have put multiple measures in place to maintain safety, including treatment of the water supply and installing specialist filters on taps and showers which our regular testing shows is effective.”