The family of a young girl who died suddenly after days of illness is demanding answers, calling the repeated delays in the investigation into her death a “never-ending nightmare.”
Four-year-old Bonnie Marsh, from Norfolk, fell ill on December 14, 2021, shortly after her mother, Lauren Marsh, picked her up from school. Initially, she was kept at home to rest. But just two days later, her condition worsened — she vomited and fainted in the bathroom.
Paramedics were called but advised that Bonnie could remain at home. When her symptoms persisted the next day, her father took her to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. Doctors sent her home once more.
By December 18, her health had deteriorated further. Lauren recalled phoning the hospital and again being told not to bring her in. She ignored the advice. “She was freezing cold, floppy, and dying in my arms,” Lauren said. At the hospital, staff were caught off guard because they hadn’t expected her arrival. A cleaner was the first to spot them and raise the alarm.
Doctors fought to save Bonnie as her condition spiraled. “They told me to drip water into her mouth every ten minutes because her veins had collapsed,” Lauren said. Moments later, Bonnie went into cardiac arrest. Though her heart was briefly restarted, she died before she could be transferred to another hospital.
Initially, her family was told she had died from dehydration caused by norovirus. Later, reports suggested she had both COVID-19 and flu. An interim death certificate listed a possible genetic condition, “inborn error of metabolism,” but tests carried out at multiple facilities came back negative, leaving her family with more questions than answers.
Adding to their heartbreak, the Marsh family says they were not informed that Bonnie’s body would be frozen to preserve samples. “No one told me. I hadn’t given consent,” Lauren said. “When I finally saw her again days later at the funeral home, she didn’t look like my Bonnie anymore.”
An inquest — the formal investigation into her death — has faced repeated postponements. Originally set for July 2023, it was delayed until October, then pushed back further to April 2026 due to scheduling conflicts. A review is now planned for September 2025.
Hospital officials have expressed condolences, saying the inquest will be an opportunity to fully examine the circumstances. But for Bonnie’s family, the long wait has been unbearable.
“I’m so mentally broken,” Lauren said. “We’re stuck in limbo, living a nightmare. Someone needs to be held accountable — things have to change.”
