Child killed by a rare disease (From Witney Gazette)
Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting 'OXFORD NEWS' to 80360 or email
Child killed by a rare disease
10:30am Monday 18th March 2013 in News
A nine-year-old boy who suffered from a rare disease died from natural causes, a coroner has ruled.
Ben Illingworth of Witney had Sanfilippo syndrome, which prevents the body from breaking down some sugar molecules.
He died at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital on October 25 after being found unresponsive at home by father Michael.
The disease manifests itself within the first year of an infant’s life and affects about one in 70,000 children.
Coroner Peter Clark recorded a verdict of natural causes at County Hall, Oxford on Wednesday.
