The family of a fitness fanatic left paralyzed and unable to speak has sued the NHS after his deadly brain condition was dismissed as a virus.

Aspiring DJ Oli Coppock, 34, has been non-verbal for more than two years, and his body is now twisted and virtually paralyzed after the blunder by an A and E doctor who failed to diagnose his condition.

He attended Warrington Hospital complaining of feeling dizzy and sick with a severe headache and even brought with him an overnight bag.

But despite file notes showing he had recent brain surgery and radiotherapy months earlier, his doctor dismissed his symptoms and failed to order a simple CT scan.

He was told he had a virus and to go home and take some paracetamol.

The gym fanatic later had a cardiac arrest after fluid on the brain was discovered from a later CT scan, and he was left with inoperable brain stem damage.

His breathing, feeding and toileting are all done through tubes at the rehab center where he is being cared for, and he now has no meaningful ability to move.

His father, Stephen Coppock, said he had only communicated through blinking, and his devastated family is taking legal action with Express Solicitors against Warrington Hospital.

The hospital has now admitted liability following a damning internal report which revealed a catalogue of failures.

Stephen – a former child protection lawyer – said hospital bosses were happy for his son to “waste away” in an independent neurological rehab center for nearly a year following the report before finally admitting wrongdoing.

Now he hopes his son can finally access specialist treatment and equipment after an interim payment was agreed following court delays to funding, but fears it could be ‘too little, too late.’

Oli can now only communicate with his family by blinking yes and no to prompt cards, but they believe he understands everything that is going on around him.

Stephen, of Northwich, Cheshire, said: “Warrington should hold their heads in shame.

“As far as I am concerned, the health service that he trusted to protect him has destroyed my boy by failing to do the basics, and his life was ruined at 32; now he is a shell of his former self.

“They robbed him of his life. Every day is like a lifetime for him, as his mind is still completely active and he knows exactly what is going on, but his body can’t respond.

“His life plans have been obliterated and he is living a permanent nightmare. There is no space worse in the world for a human to occupy.

“I can only describe it as my son living in hell, just like that ‘Scream’ painting by Munch.

“His only form of communication over the last few years has been two plastic yes and no cards. It’s devastating to see as a dad.”

Manchester United fan Oli’s ordeal started in May 2023 when a routine scan for an ongoing diagnosis of MS picked up a small benign growth near his brain stem.

After successful surgery in November 2023 and preventative Proton Beam therapy at Christie in Manchester the following year, he was soon back in the gym, enjoying long walks in the Lake District and looking forward to his future.

He had also landed a weekly DJ residency playing in a venue near his home in Warrington, where he lived.

But in May 2024, everything changed with a fateful trip to Accident and Emergency at Warrington hospital.

He was suffering from dizziness, fatigue and vomiting, but after being made to wait for nearly four hours before being triaged, his symptoms weren’t taken seriously.

Stephen added: “It was obvious something was seriously wrong and it wasn’t just a virus and needed further investigation or at least a scan.

“I was so angry when they sent him home. Oli knew he was sick; he brought an overnight bag with him as he was fully expecting to be admitted.”

It was later discovered with the aid of a CT scan from another hospital that Oli had hydrocephalus – a condition which occurs when there is excessive fluid on the brain – and needed a number of operations.

Stephen said if the doctor had ordered a simple CT scan at the time, it would have revealed the fluid on the brain and it would have been a “simple fix.”

He added: “They even admitted as such in their report. Oli would now be enjoying meals out with his friends, long walks, seeing his brother play football, going to the gym, DJing and holidays in Ibiza.

“Instead, he is a prisoner in his own body stuck in a bed staring at the ceiling and can only talk to his family by blinking.”

Stephen said the delays and refusal by the hospital to take accountability had only added to his suffering.

He added: “This wasn’t just a bad day; the hospital just didn’t get the basics right, and my son has paid a terrible price, and his life as he knew it is essentially over.

“He trusted them and believed them to keep him safe, and now he is stuck in a room, virtually paralyzed, with breathing tubes keeping him alive.

“Oli is only in this position because of their failings in the first place, and for them to starve him of any stimulation or specialist rehab equipment for so long, which would have made his life slightly bearable, is unforgivable.”

Stephen, 65, said his son had loved music and DJing was his life. He loved playing and going to Ibiza and attending festivals. He also had a residency gig in Warrington and had “everything to live for.”

He said: “He has no real quality of life. I fear the damage done is irreversible. He should have had access to specialist rehab from day one.

“They have destroyed our family, and all our mental health is shot to pieces as we have had to spend every waking hour fighting them and the health system.

“I have struggled to get even basic support for Oli. It’s outrageous. Now we need action and quickly.

“Patients who are planning to use A n E, beware, this could easily happen to you or your loved ones.

“We never thought it would ever happen to us.”

Oli, who was “very active” and an avid gym-goer, was left unable to move his body as he developed spasticity, where his muscles, limbs, head and neck became stiff and unable to move.

He has remained in the hospital or a specialist neurological care home ever since.

A subsequent Internal Patient Safety Incident Investigation report carried out by Warrington Hospital outlined a catalogue of failings, including not ordering a CT scan, failing to escalate his case based on past medical history and not seeking advice from senior colleagues.

The Trust admitted in their report that, had a scan happened, it would likely have revealed the fluid on his brain, which could have been easily drained, leading to a quick recovery and normal life.

Stephen added: “It beggars belief that after admitting this that he had to wait nearly a year for them to admit they were at fault, which likely caused irreparable damage to Oli. It is disgusting behavior.”

Now, despite his and his family’s objections, in another blow to the family, medics have given his son a DO NOT resuscitate and no ICU package as he remains very sick.

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust – which runs Warrington Hospital and has now taken full liability for what happened to Oli after the family took legal action and after court approval last month – is arranging for an interim payment to help pay for specialist care equipment and treatment.

The Trust admitted that a CT scan “should have been performed” and it was a “breach of duty” to fail to do so, and that surgery before Oli’s “catastrophic deterioration” would have “prevented” respiratory arrest.

The family’s lawyer Tanzeela Aslam, Head of Medical Negligence at Express Solicitors, said: “Oli’s case illustrates how preventable errors within the NHS can have devastating and life-changing consequences for individuals and their families.

“The impact of the initial failings was further compounded by delays in the defendant admitting liability.

“During this time Oli was deprived of access to funds for essential therapies and treatments that could have improved his quality of life. A life that has already been significantly and prematurely shortened as a result of the Defendant’s negligence.”

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Warrington Hospital, said: “We are deeply sorry that Mr. Coppock did not receive that standard of care that should be expected, and we recognize the distress and lasting impact on patients and their families when harm is caused.”