'Beautiful' Alfie, 7, died after battling undiagnosed eating disorder

AGONY OF MUM WHO FELT SHE WASN'T LISTENED TO OVER NON-VERBAL BOY WITH AUTISM

- IMOGEN CLYDE-SMITH

A MUM has spoken of her heartbreak after her 'beautiful and happy' boy died suddenly after battling an undiagnosed eating disorder that caused him to become malnourished.

Alfie Nicholls, who had autism and was non-verbal, tragically died on December 17, 2021, aged just seven years old after suffering a cardiac arrest.

An inquest into his death at South Manchester Coroners Court in Stockport heard Alfie's mum Lucy Morrison, 31, had taken him to hospital and his GP on a number of occasions in the weeks leading up to his death, knowing something was wrong.

The inquest heard Alfie had significant sensory difficulties which manifested in his eating and led to him having a severely restrictive diet. It was not until after his death that he was diagnosed with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), which is not uncommon in children with autism.

Alfie started at school in September 2019. The inquest heard that during the school day Alfie was consuming just 'a few biscuits and a little bit of water! During his time at school Alfie was never seen by the school nurse and there was no attempt to understand what or how much he was consuming.

In June 2021 Alfie was referred to the speech and language team which ran food clinics after concerns were raised by the school but the referral focused solely on his hydration levels. The children's services meanwhile offered support with Alfie's sleeping and respite but not his eating.