TRURO, CORNWALL — The University of Wyoming community was shaken to its core by a heartbreaking tragedy on the afternoon of Thursday, February 22, 2024. Three promising student-athletes from the school’s swimming and diving program lost their lives in a fatal rollover crash along a notoriously challenging, rural stretch of U.S. Highway 287 near the Colorado–Wyoming border. The accident occurred shortly before 2:45 p.m., in an area near Red Mountain Road—a region long recognized for its demanding road conditions, frequent, unpredictable weather shifts, and a history of severe collisions.
The Spark of a Life: Amber Milnes
Five-year-old Amber Milnes, from St Just in Roseland, Cornwall, was a bright, joyful child whose presence could light up any room. Her parents, Sereta and Lewis Milnes, described her as their “magical little princess,” a girl whose infectious laughter, boundless curiosity, and energy were known throughout her family and community. Amber loved music, dancing, and her dolls, and was frequently remarked upon for her sweet, caring nature and imagination.
However, Amber’s childhood was complicated by significant medical challenges. She suffered from obstructive sleep apnoea, a condition that chronically interrupted her breathing while sleeping, leading to fatigue and other complications. Compounding this, she had a rare and often debilitating condition called Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome (CVS). Since the age of two, Amber had endured sudden, severe bouts of vomiting that could last for hours, frequently leaving her dehydrated and in extreme discomfort. Her parents had spent years becoming vigilant experts in managing these episodes and advocating for her complex needs.
A Procedure Meant to Bring Relief
To relieve the sleep apnoea, doctors at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) in Truro recommended an adenotonsillectomy—the surgical removal of both tonsils and adenoids. The procedure is generally considered routine and low-risk, holding the promise of vastly improving Amber’s quality of life by normalizing her breathing during sleep.
On 5 April 2023, Amber was admitted for the surgery. Due to her complicated medical history, particularly the high risk of dehydration exacerbated by CVS, her parents expected her to stay overnight for careful observation. They explicitly communicated this critical concern to the medical staff, hoping to ensure meticulous monitoring following the operation.
To their shock and dismay, Amber was discharged later that evening, around 9 p.m. Despite the parents’ repeated warnings and the known risks of her rare condition, the doctors cleared her to go home. Sereta and Lewis felt profoundly uneasy but reluctantly followed the medical advice, placing their trust in the hospital’s decision for their daughter’s safety.
The Rapid and Tragic Decline
The following morning, 6 April, Amber began experiencing intense vomiting episodes. Alarmed, her parents immediately contacted the hospital for guidance. They were initially told to “wait and see,” a recommendation that left them feeling frustrated and helpless. By that evening, Amber had vomited nearly 20 times, and her parents were gravely concerned about severe dehydration and her inability to keep down necessary medications.
At 10 p.m., the family rushed Amber back to RCHT. She was readmitted and immediately given intravenous (IV) fluids and anti-nausea medication. Doctors noted she had developed a chest infection, further complicating her post-operative recovery.
However, the critical care she received was soon compromised: on 8 April, her IV line failed. For approximately 14 hours, Amber went tragically without fluids, antibiotics, pain relief, or anti-nausea medication. Due to her CVS, she was unable to take these medications orally, leaving her profoundly vulnerable. In the early hours of 9 April 2023, Amber suffered a catastrophic haemorrhage. Despite immediate medical intervention, she was pronounced dead at 4:37 a.m. The suddenness of her passing shattered her family and stunned the community, as such an outcome is exceedingly rare in pediatric adenotonsillectomy cases.
Inquest Findings and Systemic Concerns
In November 2025, a full inquest into Amber’s death was conducted at the Cornwall Coroner’s Court, presided over by Senior Coroner Andrew Cox.
The investigation concluded that Amber died from a “known but very rare complication” following her surgery—specifically, a catastrophic hemorrhage caused by infection at the surgical site, which eroded an artery in her throat. Post-mortem examinations confirmed that no damage had occurred during the surgery itself.
Amber’s surgeon, Kel Anyanwu, testified that the operation, which lasted approximately 38 minutes, had been entirely uneventful. He stated that in his 25 years of experience, he had never encountered a death resulting from tonsil removal, underscoring the extreme rarity of this particular complication.
However, a consultant ENT surgeon reviewing the case, Simon Carr, acknowledged that given Amber’s complex CVS and history of vomiting, a preoperative discussion among pediatric specialists may have influenced critical decisions about her discharge and post-operative monitoring—a point agreed upon by the Coroner. This failure to adequately integrate her specialist pediatric history into the post-operative plan became a focal point of the inquiry.
A Family’s Plea: Trust Your Instincts
Throughout the inquest, Amber’s parents conveyed their heartbreak, describing her as the “happiest little girl,” full of life, singing, and bringing joy to everyone around her. Sereta and Lewis expressed deep regret over Amber’s early discharge and the hospital’s failure to fully account for her complex condition. They believe that if Amber had been observed overnight or readmitted immediately after the first signs of repeated vomiting, her death might have been prevented.
The Milnes family now shares a message that serves as a heartbreaking legacy to their daughter: trust your instincts. Even for seemingly routine procedures, parents are their child’s best advocates. They urge others to ask questions, insist on clear, thorough communication, and ensure that medical teams understand all aspects of a child’s complex medical history. Their tragedy underscores that no operation is completely risk-free, and parental vigilance can make a life-saving difference.
In response, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust issued a formal statement expressing condolences and confirming they had conducted a full review of her care. The hospital has since implemented new guidelines for the care of children undergoing adenotonsillectomy, particularly those with additional health complications such as CVS, to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Amber Milnes’ story is a stark, poignant reminder of the importance of vigilance and the critical nature of clear, integrated communication in complex pediatric care.
