Amber Milnes, 5, tragically died four days after what was meant to be a routine tonsillectomy to treat sleep apnea. Her parents, Sereta and Lewis, described her as their “magical little princess.”
Amber, who also suffered from cyclical vomiting syndrome, underwent surgery at Royal Cornwall Hospital on April 5, 2023. Despite her family warning staff about her condition, she was discharged only hours after the operation.
That night, Amber began violently vomiting and was readmitted after more than 20 episodes. Due to a failed IV line, she went 14 hours without fluids, pain relief, or antibiotics. On April 9, she suffered a catastrophic hemorrhage and died at 4:37 a.m.
A post-mortem found a rare surgical-site infection eroded an artery, causing massive bleeding.
Amber’s parents urged other families to trust their instincts and speak up if something doesn’t feel right, saying they will always believe she should have been allowed to stay in the hospital.
A November 2025 inquest concluded Amber’s death was a “very rare complication,” though questions remain about whether her condition was fully understood by staff. The hospital expressed condolences to the family.