A 20-year-old woman who developed fatal sepsis after a routine operation could have been saved had effective treatment been given earlier, an inquest has heard.

Chloe Rideout, from Coverack, died on October 20, 2018 after contracting sepsis following an operation to remove her appendix at University Hospital Plymouth, better known as Derriford Hospital.

Chloe, a trained hairdresser who worked as a receptionist at the spa at St Michael's Hotel in Falmouth and at the Bay Hotel near Coverack, was admitted to the hospital on October 7, 2018 and operated on during October 9.

She was discharged on October 13, despite still being in pain, but was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro the next day, where she went into a coma and died from organ failure on October 20.

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An inquest into her death has now entered a third day, with evidence heard from consultant physician Dr Mervyn Davies, an expert in hepatology, gastroenterology, and general medicine.

He said he was "in complete agreement" that the cause of death was multiple organ failure, with contributing factors of sepsis and a perforated appendix.

The inquest heard that Chloe had a liver injury that then worsened through sepsis and ultimately led to multiple organ failure.

Dr Davies said that in his opinion infection may have played a role in the initial liver injury.

Chloe Rideout with her dad Dave Rideout

Chloe Rideout with her dad Dave Rideout

The inquest had been told previously that there was an inconclusive suggestion that Chloe may, or may not, have taken a recreational drug or had her drink spiked while in Bristol.

Acting senior coroner Andrew Cox questioned whether it was "more likely than not, that if the liver injury was drug induced it was from a prescribed drug, appropriately given to her while she was an inpatient at University Hospital Plymouth?"

In reply Mr Davies agreed this was the "overwhelmingly more likely scenario."

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Dr Davies said that the liver injury was not serious enough to be declared liver failure.

He believed it would have been sustained between October 10 and 12, which left the liver "in a more vulnerable state".

However, he said it was his belief that had it not been for the development of sepsis, the liver would have recovered on its own and that recovery "would have been complete."

Dr Davies said: "If the sepsis had been effectively treated a multiple organ failure would not have developed. It's likely, in my opinion, that Ms Rideout's death would have been prevented."

He said that had Chloe been kept under observation and not discharged from University Hospital Plymouth then further tests would have been carried out that would have shown unresolved or vulnerable sepsis.

The hearing has now adjourned after hearing all the evidence, with a narrative conclusion from the coroner expected this afternoon.

The inquest continues.