Healthy father of one, 41, died from a severe brain-bleed 11 days after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine

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A father-of-one died of a severe brain-bleed just 11 days after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, an inquest has heard.

Adam Bounds, 41, passed away at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth on May 31 this year after his Covid-19 vaccine caused a 'very rare' fatal side effect. 

Dr Wayne Thomas, a consultant haematologist at Derriford Hospital, told the Plymouth coroner Mr Bounds' diagnosis was 'vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia'. 

He said the diagnosis was 'very rare' with only 260 cases in the UK and when it causes bleeding around 70 to 75 percent of patients die.  

The hospital was not aware of the diagnosis until 'after the event' because it is a test that has to be done at Bristol, Dr Thomas said. He added that discussions with experts in this field confirmed Mr Bounds had vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia. 

Adam Bounds (pictured), 41, passed away at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth on May 31 this year after his Covid-19 vaccine caused a 'very rare' fatal side effect

When offered the opportunity to ask questions Mr Bounds' father, Les, said his son would have had the vaccine 'anyway', adding that he had 'everything to live for'.

Senior coroner Ian Arrow said he would record a narrative conclusion stating that Mr Bounds had been vaccinated 11 days before his death against Covid 19.

He explained: 'On the balance of probabilities this created a vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia. That led to Adam having a low platelet count making him vulnerable to haemorrhage.

'He was given platelets but sadly succumbed to a haemorrhage.'

Before his death Mr Bounds, who lived in Bristol but originally came from Axminster in Devon, was found by his father after complaining of a headache.

The coroner said Mr Bounds, a financial sales manager who was described as the 'life and soul of the party', felt cold after returning to his parent's house from a barbecue on May 30 this year.

Senior coroner Ian Arrow said he would record a narrative conclusion stating that Mr Bounds (pictured) had been vaccinated 11 days before his death against Covid 19

He went on to be sick in the night and when Mr Bounds' father checked on him in the morning he said he thought he could have eaten 'something dodgy' at the barbecue. 

By lunchtime he complained of a headache and took paracetamol but he continued to deteriorate to the point where his father called for an ambulance.

The inquest heard Adam's father was not aware of any trauma or blow to his son's head, only stating that he had returned to the gym following the end of lockdown and wondered if he had somehow overexerted himself. 

Mr Bounds told South Western Ambulance Service paramedics he suffered with migraines and his pain score was 'ten out of ten'. They found that he could not stand properly and was 'floppy' with no strength in his arms or legs.

He told the paramedics he had vomited three times, twice in the night and once more in the morning. When he lost consciousness he was taken to the emergency department at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

A CT scan revealed an acute right-frontal lobe haemorrhage that was causing compression of the brain stem. He was then transferred to Derriford Hospital for neurosurgery.

Dr Thomas said 'vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia' was associated with clots and not necessarily in the brain, but also in the abdomen, which Dr Shivani had noted in his report (file image)

During the operation the surgeon noted Mr Bounds brain was 'very swollen and very tense' and there was no improvement despite the removal of the blood. 

A decision was then taken by the neurosurgeon not to continue with the craniotomy further 'due to futility'. He added: 'The absence of response to the haematoma evacuation was associated with a negligible chance of survival and recovery.'

A cause of death was given as intracerebral haemorrhage (operated). Consultant neuropathologist Dr Adity Shivane found a 'massive intracerebral bleed' during a post mortem examination.

He could not find a tumour or cancer which could have caused such a large bleed and a toxicological examination was inconclusive.

Dr Shivane said there was no evidence of a trauma or injury and the death was, on the balance of probability, caused by a 'spontaneous bleed'. 

He said there was no evidence of a heart attack but he did note haemorrhaging in the right kidney and blood clots in the mesentery, a membrane attached to the abdominal wall. 

Dr Thomas said 'vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia' was associated with clots and not necessarily in the brain, but also in the abdomen, which Dr Shivani had noted in his report.  

Mr Bounds' (pictured) funeral was held at the Minster Church in Axminster on June 18 this year

Mr Bounds' brother, paying tribute to him on behalf of his whole family, said: 'Adam was a much loved member of our family, and the local community. He leaves behind his son Owen, father Les and brother Jamie.

'He will be greatly missed, he was the life and soul of the party, and certainly made the most of his 41 years.'

Mr Bounds' funeral was held at the Minster Church in Axminster on June 18 this year.

Donations were to be sent to the RNLI because 'Lifeboat Week was one of Adam's favourite events', his family said.

Hundreds of people stood outside the church during the funeral because of Covid-19 restrictions, with many representing the football community.

Mr Bounds was an avid football fan and used to play for Axminster Town and Uplyme.

His coffin was draped with a Liverpool FC and an England shirt.