Rebecca Moss woke up on the day of her elective Caesarean section to a heartbreaking discovery: her partner, Thomas Gibson, 40, had died in his sleep.

Friday will mark Harper Moss’ first birthday, and her family plans to celebrate with a small garden party. However, the day will also carry a shadow of sorrow, as it marks one year since the death of her father, Thomas Gibson.

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On June 7, 2023, just hours before Rebecca was scheduled to give birth to Harper, she found her partner of seven years lying unresponsive on the sofa. Despite her desperate attempts to revive him, Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene. He had suffered a sudden cardiac death, just hours before the birth of his first and only child.

Rebecca recalls the tragic morning vividly. “I woke up around 5:15 am and went downstairs to let the dog out. Tom was asleep on the couch. I went over to him saying, ‘Wake up, it’s baby day.’ He didn’t respond. When I tried to kiss him, I realized he wasn’t breathing and called 999,” she recounts tearfully.

The tragedy deepens with the revelation that Thomas’s death could have been prevented. Following a two-day inquest at Stockport Coroner’s Court, it was determined that Thomas died due to sudden cardiac death caused by myocardial fibrosis. The inquest revealed that a heart defect, detectable via an ECG scan, had been missed. Had it been caught, he could have been fitted with a pacemaker, likely preventing his death.

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Rebecca’s ordeal is compounded by the fact that Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust admitted to providing negligent medical care. The coroner, Christopher Morris, stated, “Had the clinical team recognized the ECG showed complete heart block, Thomas could have had a pacemaker fitted. It is likely these measures would have avoided his death.”

Rebecca added, “Medics admitted during the inquest that he should have received treatment and a pacemaker. The expertise that could have saved Tom’s life was just one phone call away.”

The saga began three weeks earlier, when Thomas developed an upset stomach after eating a sandwich at work. His condition worsened, and despite seeking medical help multiple times, he was not adequately treated. His symptoms, including severe diarrhea and blood in his stool, led him to Wythenshawe Hospital, where an ECG test identified a complete heart block. However, this crucial finding was missed by two doctors.

“The ECG wasn’t reviewed by a cardiologist or a specialist while he was there,” Rebecca said. “Wythenshawe Hospital, one of the biggest cardiology units in the UK, failed to have a cardiologist review his case.”

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Thomas was discharged for follow-up care by his GP, but his condition deteriorated. On June 6, he finally had a face-to-face appointment, but even then, his symptoms were not taken seriously. Rebecca accompanied him to this appointment, ensuring all his symptoms were documented.

That evening, Thomas felt too unwell to accompany Rebecca for the Caesarean section. He decided to sleep downstairs to avoid passing any infection to Rebecca. The next morning, Rebecca found him dead.

“Harper and I are adjusting to life as just the two of us,” Rebecca says. “I never imagined living without Tom. We were excited about the memories we’d make with Harper. His sudden death, especially knowing it could have been prevented, is devastating.”

In the delivery room, despite her trauma, Rebecca focused on Harper’s safe arrival. “I felt numb, but I was determined to ensure Harper was born safely. Despite the tragedy, her birth was a relief and brought joy to the worst day of my life.”

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Rebecca sees Thomas in Harper every day. “She looks so much like him, especially in her eyes and smile. I hope she inherits his kindness. Tom’s legacy lives on through Harper, and we will make sure she knows what a wonderful man her dad was.”

Rebecca, represented by Charlotte Moore of CL Medilaw, is determined to share Thomas’s story. “He deserved better treatment. He was let down by those supposed to care for him. I want everyone to know that.”

The coroner will write a prevention of future deaths report to the chief executive of the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and the National Institute of Clinical Excellence regarding ECG scan interpretations, hoping to prevent similar tragedies in the future.