What began as a simple sore throat turned into a tragedy no family could have imagined. Now, a young widow is sharing her story in hopes of raising awareness about epiglottitis and the importance of urgent medical care.

“Watching Jacob grow up without his daddy by his side is devastating,” a grieving widow shared, after she lost her husband following a doctor’s misdiagnosis.

Michael Reynolds was just 29 years old when he visited his local GP in November 2023, complaining of a persistent sore, swollen throat and a cough lasting several months. The truck driver, and new father to baby Jacob, was prescribed a steroid nasal spray and sent home.

Michael, pictured with his young son Jacob, was just 29 years old when he passed away (SWNS)

The following day, Michael returned to the clinic unable to swallow, struggling to eat, and spitting into a bowl because his throat was closing up. Despite his worsening condition, and his own concerns about needing emergency care, he was told it was tonsillitis and given oral antibiotics.

On the way home, he collected the medication and was greeted by his wife Charlotte and their son. Moments later, he collapsed and suffered a seizure. Rushed to hospital, Michael died the next morning.

Michael’s wife Charlotte is now hoping to raise awareness of epiglottitis after Jacob lost his dad 24 hours after a misdiagnosis (SWNS)

Charlotte, 31, is now determined to raise awareness of epiglottitis — a condition involving dangerous swelling of the flap covering the windpipe. “Michael meant everything to us and losing him has left a huge hole in our lives that will never go away,” she said.

An inquest held in December 2023 found there had been a “missed opportunity” to send Michael for urgent hospital treatment. A post-mortem confirmed he died from hypoxic cardiac arrest caused by upper airway obstruction due to epiglottitis.

Michael with his only son, Jacob (SWNS)

Charlotte reflected: “The inquest and reliving everything again has been particularly upsetting, but at least I now have some answers as to why Michael’s no longer with us and I will be able to explain this to Jacob when he is old enough to understand. All I can hope for now is that by sharing our story, it can lead to improvements in care for others and more awareness around the signs of epiglottitis and the need for emergency treatment.”

She added: “I wouldn’t want anyone going through what we have.”