Cornwall Child Dies After Routine Tonsil Surgery

A young girl in Cornwall, five-year-old Amber Milnes, passed away four days after a tonsillectomy procedure performed at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. The inquest revealed Amber, who had sleep apnea and cyclical vomiting syndrome, was discharged on the same day as her April 5, 2023, surgery, despite her parents' belief she required overnight observation.

Following her discharge, Amber began experiencing severe vomiting at home. She was readmitted to the hospital, but tragically suffered a fatal hemorrhage on April 9. Pathologists suggested the hemorrhage was likely caused by an infection at the site of her tonsil removal, which developed after the surgery.

The surgeon involved described the case as unique and stated he had never seen a death following a tonsillectomy in his 25 years at the hospital. Amber's parents remembered her as a happy, brave, and loving child who adored singing and dancing, making her loss deeply felt by her family.