Yesterday morning, HM Assistant Coroner Taylor – sitting in Croydon Coroner’s Court – began hearing evidence in the inquest of a 17-year-old trans teenager who had changed his name to Axel Kai Ford.
Axel died by ingesting a poisonous substance on 23 July 2022. Shortly before his death, Axel (who had been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in childhood) was detained under section 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983 on a low secure ward in Hampshire. At the time of his death, Axel resided in semi-independent accommodation.
In his opening remarks, the coroner shared the questions at the forefront of his mind when hearing the evidence. The coroner said that he would be exploring whether there were any shortcomings in Axel’s mental health care at the semi-independent accommodation which caused or contributed to his death.
The bereaved family are supported by INQUEST and are represented by Basmah Sahib of Bindmans.
On the opening of this inquest, Basmah said:
The bereaved family are pleased that the coroner has brought the pertinent issues of this case into sharp focus at the very outset of proceedings.
Daniel Grütters of One Pump Court is also representing the bereaved family. He is assisted by William Heath, who is a pupil at One Pump Court chambers.
Other interested persons to this inquest include London Borough of Bexley, Social Care London, South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, and Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust (which has changed its name to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust).