Mitchell Joseph: Footballer dad never met daughter

The mother of a footballer who died after collapsing during a game says he never got to meet his daughter.

Mitchell Joseph played for St Joseph's FC in the Swansea Senior Football League when he collapsed in January 2018.

An inquest at Swansea Corner's Court heard from Mr Joseph's mother, Beverley Stephens, on Monday.

Mr Joseph never got to meet his daughter, who regularly asks "why my daddy is not here", Ms Stephens said.

Ms Stephens said Mitchell was "fit and healthy" and that it was a "surprise to everyone" when they found out he had a heart problem.

The family said they were told by doctors an operation in May 2017 was a "success."

Mr Pankaj Kumar, a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Swansea Bay University Health Board who carried out the surgery, said Mr Joseph had been "asymptomatic" and recovered well.

Assistant coroner Aled Gruffydd asked whether the surgery could or should have been delayed, and Mr Kumar said he "didn't think the risk [of the operation] was high" and that taking no action would eventually result in heart failure.

Mr Joseph's cardiologist Martyn Heatley agreed Mr Joseph did meet criteria for surgery "even though he was asymptomatic at that point".

Mr Gruffydd also asked for details about an appointment to increase medication doses which Mr Joseph missed.

Dr Heatley explained that there is "no physical letter" given to patients due to the appointment system being slow, and that he tells patients to return the following fortnight.

Asked why there had been no follow-up, Dr Heatley said he would usually be presented with a letter with a reason why a patient had not attended and take action based on that, but it had not been put onto the system.

He said this meant no-one was aware he had not attended and no further action was taken.

Dr Heatley said he could not explain why admin staff appeared to have completed a form outlining that the outcome of Mr Joseph's meeting was that he should be discharged.

The coroner asked if Mr Joseph's dosage had increased, would it have made a difference.

Dr Heatley said it would be "hard to say" and that 'it's possible he could have survived" but there is no clear trials to show this.

A few months after leaving hospital, Mr Joseph took part in a cycling event with approval from his doctors, the inquest heard.

Mr Kumar said there would have been a conversation about the level to which exercise should be undertaken following the operation.

The inquest continues.