A family whose daughter died from sepsis following a routine operation say they feel "cheated" by her death aged just 20.

Chloe Rideout, from Coverack, was taken to Derriford Hospital last month with a burst appendix, before being sent home after an operation.

Not long afterwards, however, her parents Dave and Sharon were forced to call for an ambulance to rush her to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, where despite every effort from staff she died.

An investigation has now been launched into the circumstances leading up to her death.

Chloe, who worked for the Bay Hotel in Coverack, had been full of plans and had just got her visa to travel to Australia.

Unable to face Christmas Day this year without her, Dave will instead be walking 30 miles from the intensive care unit at the Royal Cornwall Hospital back to the family home at Coverack, to raise money and awareness for the UK Sepsis Trust.

Dave, who works for Heather and Lay estate agents in Falmouth, said: "We feel sad and empty. Cheated.

"I was so much looking forward to one day when I had the chance to walk her down the aisle and both Shaz and I were constantly talking about what were were going to do with our grandchildren when they came along.

"We are absolutely devastated by our loss and the fact that it was avoidable."

They have been supported by Melissa Mead from Penryn, who has tirelessly campaigned to increase awareness of sepsis since her son William died just before his first birthday in 2014, when his symptoms were mistaken by doctors for a common cold.

Melissa, now an ambassador for the Sepsis Trust, said: "She [Chloe] was still very, very poorly so was taken by ambulance to Treliske, but really by that point it was too late."

She said the family wanted to stress that staff at the Royal Cornwall Hospital did "a really good job."

"They did everything they could. The family can't thank the staff there enough for their compassion, kindness and their hard work in trying to save Chloe. There was nothing that was too much for them.

"The family really want to express their thanks heartfelt thanks for that," added Melissa.

Dave and Sharon now want to support the work of the UK Sepsis Trust in memory of Chloe, who was always supporting charities with fundraising, including through the Coverack Christmas Day swim, and in the hope of preventing other families from going through the same pain.

Dave said: "We didn't know what sepsis was. The Sepsis Trust visits schools, doctors and hospitals to educate and raise awareness of this problem, so hopefully another young person doesn't lose their life and another family doesn't have to live the nightmare we are going through.

"Chloe was only 20. She was lovely and only ever thought of others. Please give generously so no other innocent person dies.

"I can't imagine a Christmas without Chloe so if I can raise awareness that will be a help."

An online fundraising page at justgiving.com/fundraising/Dave-Rideout2 has already raised £11,214 - almost four times times his initial £3,000 target - to help the charity continue its work in spreading awareness of the symptoms of sepsis.

These include, for adults, severe breathless, extreme shivering or muscle pain, slurred speech or confusion and mottled or discoloured skin.

For children, symptoms include breathing very fast, convulsions, mottled or blueish skin, extreme lethargy and feeling abnormally cold to touch.

Melissa said: "For me personally, it's just devastating - where is the buck going to stop? At what point are people going to start listening and people start thinking 'sepsis'?"

HOW TO SPOT SEPSIS IN ADULTS

Seek medical help urgently if you (or another adult) develop any of these signs:

Slurred speech or confusion

Extreme shivering or muscle pain

Passing no urine (in a day)

Severe breathlessness

It feels like you’re going to die

Skin mottled or discoloured

HOW TO SPOT SEPSIS IN CHILDREN

If your child is unwell with either a fever or very low temperature (or has had a fever in the last 24 hours), call 999 and just ask: could it be sepsis?

A child may have sepsis if he or she:

Is breathing very fast

Has a ‘fit’ or convulsion

Looks mottled, bluish, or pale

Has a rash that does not fade when you press it

Is very lethargic or difficult to wake

Feels abnormally cold to touch

A child under five may have sepsis if he or she:

Is not feeding

Is vomiting repeatedly

Has not passed urine for 12 hours