Ben Boyle, 37, died just days after he was admitted to hospital with what had been a urine infection – it turned into sepsis which resulted in kidney failure
A man died just 13 days after an “unexpected” visit to the hospital for an infection.
Ben Boyle, 37, from Clitheroe, Lancashire, suddenly fell ill toward the end of October 2023 and was admitted to Manchester Royal Infirmary with what had been a urine infection. The family of the Everton FC fan were then told the infection turned into sepsis and that he also caught a blood virus, which resulted in kidney failure.
But 13 days after being admitted, Ben died with his parents by his bedside on November 5. His mum, Gillian Barnes, 63, spent the last days of her son’s life by his bedside on a camp bed.
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Gillian’s husband as well as Ben’s stepddad, Alan Barnes, 65, said Ben’s hospital admission was “unexpected” and they thought he would be in for just three or four days, the Liverpool Echo reports. He told the outlet: “He went in with a urine infection and we thought he would be in for a few days, three or four days, but after three days he got sepsis and endocarditis which affected his heart.
“Ben’s body was retaining over eight litres of fluid which needed draining. His kidney started packing up so they put an emergency line into his groin but it wasn’t working.
“The day before he died was his mum’s birthday and we spent it in hospital at his bedside while he was having a blood transfusion. We had a Chinese.
“On the morning Ben died, his favourite singer was going to come onto the ward and sing some of his favourite songs for him, but I had a call to say Ben had taken a turn for the worst and had to cancel. When I arrived they had just brought Ben back to life and we spent some time with him before he died. He will be a big void in my life.”
Earlier in his life, Ben was diagnosed with the rare Bardet Biedl Syndrome, a genetic condition which affects several parts of the body. The condition led to Ben being registered blind and having learning difficulties.
Ben had three kidney transplants throughout his life with Alan describing how they had “seven bonus years” with him. His parents called him “quick witted” with the ability to make “everybody laugh.”
In addition to his love for Everton, he also enjoyed wrestling and never missed an episode of Question Time. Alan, who grew up in Newton-Le-Willows, said: “He had been through hell and back but he never moaned and was always cheerful. He was so quick witted, he would make everyone laugh.
“We would try to get him to as many matches as we could at Everton and managed two or three per season. The stewards and staff were always so lovely to him, especially when he was invited to the ground as a special guest of the club after an operation he had.
“When his brother [Andrew] died 11 years ago, the funeral directors said to us that Ben could stay there for a few hours, and they took him on a trip to McDonald’s in the hearse for a Happy Meal.
“He gave a tall member of staff a nickname… The Grim Reaper as he drove around in the hearse. That was Ben. Although he was 37, he was very much a child in some ways. He loved the Jungle Book and his favourite character was Baloo, we got him a bear from a trip to Florida and it went everywhere with him, we’re putting it in his coffin along with his Christmas presents.”
Ben is survived by his mum Gillian, stepdad Alan and his younger brother Jimmy. A GoFundMe page has been set up after the family was unable to get life insurance due to Ben’s kidney transplant. In just one day, the family raised about £800.