A man died just four days after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery, his heartbroken wife has said.
Phillip Morris, 48, had an operation at St Anthony's Hospital in Surrey on December 6, 2021, but he tragically died, leaving his wife Dana and young son Orson bereft.
He had long struggled with his weight and he was diagnosed as having type one diabetes while he was in his early 20s at drama school, Wales Online reports.
After being put on insulin for 20 years, Mr Morris was later told he had type-two diabetes. His body became resistant to insulin as he continued to feel hungry and put weight on, Dana said.
His operation was scheduled just two months before Mr Morris was due to embark on a PhD literary programme at the University of East Anglia – one of the best writing courses in the world – in February 2022.
Dana said: "The surgery was December and he was due to start the PhD course that February and all of his Christmas presents had been things like a Thermos because he was going to have to do a lot of travelling to East Anglia.
"He was prepared, he was ready to go. That was going to be another tier in his career."
He had chosen to have his operation at a private clinic due to NHS delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Following the surgery, he was struggling to talk and breathe and eventually died on December 10, his wife said.
A pre-inquest review was held at South London Coroner's Court in Croydon on April 27, with a full inquest due to be held in January 2024.
Dana said: "Phil was someone who never talked about himself – he was always trying to promote the work of other writers, artists, and students. Sadly it's after he's passed that he's being recognised."
The couple met when Mr Morris was 19 and Dana was 18 and fresh out of American high school. He had started an English and drama degree at Bristol but decided he'd had enough after a year and the pair met while working for Camp America with inner-city kids from Detroit.
They soon fell in love and while Phillip was scheduled to go volunteering in East Timor and Dana had four years of university ahead of her they decided to get married instead.
Phillip later auditioned – and was accepted – for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. And so the young couple eventually came to the UK.
They lived in Newport where their only son Orson – named after the American actor Orson Wells – was born but after seven years they moved back to London so Phillip could pursue his love of acting.
"He was such a great dad when Orson was born," said Dana. "He was so modest. He was a great writer, a wonderful father, husband, and son and a true inspiration to everybody who met him."
Phillip's family – including parents, brother, sister, nieces and nephews – have been left "heartbroken" by their sudden loss. The family’s legal team at Middleton Law are investigating Phillip’s case to seek more answers into the circumstances of his treatment and death.
A spokesman for Spire Healthcare added: "We offer our very sincere condolences to Mr Morris' family for their loss."
