A FAMILY is demanding answers after a loving father died from a fatal blood clot.

Keithley Lewis, from Benfleet, was taken to Southend Hospital with shortness of breath in December last year.

After being admitted for tests, he was discharged two days later with a course of antibiotics.

Three weeks later Mr Lewis, who was 57, died from a blood clot on his lungs.

His family claim the hospital missed an opportunity to diagnose and treat the clot and has failed to respond to their concerns since his death.

Speaking with the Echo, his 31-year-old daughter Kirsty Banks said: “It just felt like the consultant brushed it off. He wasn’t given oxygen despite being short of breath.

“They kept him in to scan his heart but they said nothing was wrong so they discharged him the next day.

“When he went home, he was still short of breath and over the Christmas period he was experiencing some chest pain.

“But he didn’t feel he could go back because he didn’t believe they would do anything.”

Mr Lewis, who worked as a milkman, died on December 28.

Kirsty said: “When they did a post mortem, we found out they had missed that his heart was enlarged and they had missed the blood clot. If they had caught it, he may still be alive.

“It’s just frustrating - we are grieving and the hospital are now not getting back to us.

“We need to know what happened so we can have closure, but I also want to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.

“He was only 57 when he passed away leaving his three children and young grandkids that miss him so much.

“He was a family man that adored his grandkids and would do anything for us all.”

Southend Hospital confirmed they were investigating.

Denise Townsend, Director of Nursing at Southend Hospital, said: “We have been liaising with the family, and are in the process of investigating their concerns at what we know must be a difficult and distressing time for them.

“Should they wish to get in touch with us again, we would ask them to contact our complaints team.”