'I was told my son, 19, had an ear infection. He died three weeks later'

A mum is calling for greater research after her teenage son's suspected ear infection turned out to be a brain tumour. Niall Kavanagh, 19, was rushed to A&E with sudden forgetfulness and an inability to speak.

The teen died just three weeks after he was diagnosed. He had been unwell for several weeks, but his symptoms were blamed on a suspected virus or ear infection.

Mum Claire, a secretary, said: "I’ll never understand how Niall went from being a fit, healthy 19-year-old, playing football and living with his girlfriend, to dying three weeks after diagnosis. Losing him has destroyed my life and I don’t want other families to endure the same heartbreak.”