A SERIOUS case review into the death of a teenager has concluded that more could have been done to save him.

Lewis Albon, 13, died in March 2018 from a blood clot, caused by his obesity.

A report into his death praised the actions of his school and GP, but found that agencies missed several opportunities to intervene.

No evidence of direct conversations with Lewis about weight management, no consideration about whether he could have benefited from referral to mental health support, and a lack of communication were all considered as missed opportunities that could have changed Lewis’ story.

Kathy Batt, Chair of Bury Safeguarding Board, said: “If he hadn’t been so very overweight then he would not have had this embolism that caused him to die.

“He was very sociable and likeable so nobody connected his problems to his emotional wellbeing.

“I’m not saying that childhood obesity is always a safeguarding issue, but it should be seen as a potential issue going forward.”

Lewis was recorded as overweight at the age of four.

Complex problems in his home life are thought to have led Lewis to comfort eat as a coping mechanism.

A stigma around weight is blamed for health professionals struggling to talk about a patient’s weight.

There are few guidelines about weight management for young people, and the report has recommended training and support for local professionals.

Leslie Jones, Director of Public Health, said: “I’m glad to see weight stigma come up in this report because it gets in the way of tackling obesity.

“I don’t think we’ve woken up to the dangers and the health impacts that obesity can bring – it is still seen more as a body image issue.

The report recommends a stronger relationship between school nurses, schools, and GPs for a more joined up approach.

New technology for GPs to communicate with school nurses and know about missed appointments has also been suggested.

Stephen Platt, Lewis’ father, said: “It’s hard without him. He was my shadow, a proper daddy’s boy and he just wanted to be with me – now I’ve lost about 30 years with him.

“Not one person mentioned his weight to him when he was alive – they’re concerned about it now it’s too late to change anything."

Stephen fundraises for the Thrombosis Charity in Lewis’ name.