Law student Melisa Zoglie, 21, died just a day after collapsing from a condition where her stomach had completely died, typically seen in people over 80, in April 2023. The stomach was completely dead,' an inquest heard.

Law student Melisa Zoglie was just 21 when she passed away last April 

A coroner said the law student passed away of 'natural causes' 

A coroner told the grieving family of a much loved law student that she died of 'natural causes'.

Law student Melisa Zoglie, 21, died just a day after collapsing from a condition where her stomach had completely died, typically seen in people over 80, in April 2023. The stomach was completely dead,' an inquest heard.

Melissa's father Franklin described the coroner's conclusion that she died of natural causes as 'unbelievable', and said he believed his daughter's death could have been avoided.

Doctors at the Royal Sussex in Brighton sent Melissa home after she turned down stronger pain medication.

She died at the same hospital after she was found collapsed at home the next day.

Law student Melisa Zoglie, 21, (pictured) died just a day after collapsing from a condition where her stomach had completely died, typically seen in people over 80

Law student Melisa Zoglie, 21, (pictured) died just a day after collapsing from a condition where her stomach had completely died, typically seen in people over 80

Melissa's father Franklin described the coroner's conclusion that she died of natural causes as 'unbelievable'

Melissa's father Franklin described the coroner's conclusion that she died of natural causes as 'unbelievable'

Doctors at the Royal Sussex in Brighton sent Melissa home after she turned down stronger pain medication

Doctors at the Royal Sussex in Brighton sent Melissa home after she turned down stronger pain medicationMelissa suffered a gastric volvulus causing her stomach to twist and die, the inquest heard, with Joanne Andrews, area coroner for West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, concluding the 'much-loved daughter' died of natural causes.

The condition is usually seen in patients aged between 80 and 90.

Melissa was discharged after hours of observation and tests and went home to Leahurst Court Road, Brighton, where she lived with her parents Antoinette Adjo and Franklin Zoglie and her brothers.

The doctors who treated her did not suspect what was wrong because they said they had 'never seen' a case of strangulated gastric volvulus in a person as young as Miss Zoglie, instead suspecting that she had an ulcer.

The inquest at Woodvale in Brighton heard from Dr James Piper, senior clinical fellow in emergency medicine at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, who took over Miss Zoglie's care at 10pm on April 17 when she went to A&EDr Piper believed Miss Zoglie, a student at the University of Law, London, were she read international business management, was suffering with gastritis, when the stomach lining is inflamed, or from food poisoning.

When making his decision to discharge her just before 2am on April 18, Dr Piper said he was satisfied she was 'fit for discharge'.

He said Miss Zoglie told him she was 'feeling a little better' and turned down the offer of stronger pain medication 'which in itself was reassuring'.

He said she was able to sit up and was sipping on water.

He therefore 'did not have concerns' and she was sent home with lansoprazole, a medication for stomach ulcers.

Dr Piper said he did not feel she needed surgery or a CT scan.

'There was no medical indication to do one at the time,' he said.

Three doctors told the inquest gastric volvulus was 'exceptionally rare in a woman of Melissa's age'.

Melissa's GP Oliver Maddison agreed with the hospital's diagnosis of an ulcer and told Miss Zoglie to double her lansoprazole medication.

Law student Melisa Zoglie was just 21 when she passed away last April 

A coroner said the law student passed away of 'natural causes' 

A coroner told the grieving family of a much loved law student that she died of 'natural causes'.

Law student Melisa Zoglie, 21, died just a day after collapsing from a condition where her stomach had completely died, typically seen in people over 80, in April 2023. He said 'nothing jumped out at him' from her blood results from the hospital or from his own observations but that she 'looked uncomfortable'.

'I stand by my decision at the time,' he said.

'My expectation was that it would improve.'

Dr Maddison said he had 'never seen' gastric volvulus until this case.

When she returned home Miss Zoglie collapsed and was readmitted to hospital.

Before a CT scan could be carried out she went into cardiac arrest and CPR was started.

It was then decided to doemergency surgery to 'figure out what was going on'.

Mr Gnananandan Janakan, lower GI and major trauma consultant surgeon at the Royal Sussex, said performing surgery when CPR is being given to a patient is 'extremely rare' but it was believed it was the only remaining option that would 'save her life'.

'The stomach was completely dead,' said Mr Janakan.

He said this would 'probably have occurred over 12 to six hours prior to her attendance' but the stomach may have been twisting and untwisting, intermittently slowing the blood flow to the stomach for a longer period.

'By the time of her attendance [on April 18], there wouldn't have been anything more we could have done,' he said.

He said before her second admission to hospital there was 'nothing to think her condition was life threatening' or that she needed a CT scan or surgery at the time.

He said a CT scan would have shown whether the stomach was twisted but if surgeons had assessed her on April 17 they would 'have come to the same conclusion and she would have been discharged'.

He said he had only seen five or six cases of gastric volvulus and these were all patients in their 70s, 80s and 90s.