The story of 17-year-old Jack Dunn from Porth, Wales, is one of those tragedies that leaves families, medical professionals, and entire communities asking how such a heartbreaking mistake could happen. Jack was described as a bright, kind-hearted teenager who enjoyed spending time with friends and had dreams for his future.

But everything changed in 2019 when he suddenly developed severe abdominal pain so intense that he could hardly stand upright. To his family, this was alarming from the very first moment. Jack had always been healthy and rarely complained about discomfort, so the fact that he was doubled over in pain was a clear sign that something serious was happening inside his body.

His parents made the immediate decision to take him to the emergency department. As they helped him into the car, Jack struggled to walk, clutching his stomach tightly. He told his father that the pain felt nothing like anything he had ever experienced.

His breathing was shallow, his face pale, and his voice weak. Every mile of that drive felt longer than the last as his parents feared the worst but hoped for the best, believing that the hospital would provide the answers they desperately needed.

When they arrived at A&E, the medical team performed several routine checks. Nurses recorded his vitals, ran a bladder scan, and attempted to rule out appendicitis — one of the more common causes of sudden abdominal pain in teenagers.

However, the results were not clear. Despite Jack’s worsening discomfort and difficulty breathing, the doctor on duty interpreted the symptoms as a severe case of constipation. Jack was given laxatives and discharged with instructions to rest at home and stay hydrated.

This diagnosis shocked Jack’s parents. They felt instinctively that something was not right, but they placed their trust in the professionals. They had gone to the hospital expecting urgent answers, but instead they left with uncertainty and medication that did little to address the real cause of Jack’s suffering.

As they returned home, Jack’s pain did not improve. If anything, it grew more intense.

Throughout the night, Jack experienced alarming symptoms. He struggled to take full breaths, feeling as though his chest was tightening. His energy levels dropped rapidly, and he became increasingly disoriented.

At moments, he appeared panicked — not because of fear, but because his body was shutting down. Yet the hospital had suggested that anxiety could cause shortness of breath, so the family tried to reassure him and help him stay calm.

The most heartbreaking part of this story is that Jack was not suffering from constipation or anxiety. He was in the middle of a medical emergency: diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that often develops silently in young people who have undiagnosed type 1 diabetes.

Without insulin, the body begins breaking down fat at a dangerous rate, releasing acids called ketones into the bloodstream. As ketone levels rise, the blood becomes toxic, and life-threatening complications occur. The symptoms Jack displayed — severe pain, rapid breathing, extreme fatigue — were classic signs of this condition.

Jack likely had no idea that he had diabetes. Many teenagers do not. And because no glucose test was performed in the hospital, the truth remained hidden. Tragically, this lack of early detection cost him his life.

The next morning, Jack failed to wake up. When his father entered his bedroom, expecting to check on his progress, he instead found his son unresponsive. The shock and devastation that followed changed the Dunn family forever.

A Preventable Death and a Family Fighting for Awareness

After Jack’s passing, doctors confirmed that diabetic ketoacidosis was the cause of death. The overwhelming sadness felt by the Dunn family was intensified by the knowledge that the condition is highly treatable when discovered early.

A simple blood glucose test — something that takes only seconds — would have indicated dangerously high ketone levels. Immediate treatment with insulin and fluids could have stabilized Jack’s condition within hours. Instead, the warning signs were overlooked, and a life that could have been saved slipped away.

Jack’s father, Kieron, later shared his anguish publicly. He explained that the moment he realized his son was gone was the most painful experience of his life. The family trusted the medical advice they were given, believing that the professionals had carried out all necessary tests.

But as they learned more about ketoacidosis, they understood just how easily Jack’s condition could have been detected.

In interviews, the Dunn family emphasized that the doctors’ assumption about anxiety was particularly devastating. Jack’s difficulty breathing was not psychological.

Empty hospital bed on hospital ward

It was a direct sign that his organs were shutting down as acids built up in his bloodstream. Had this been recognized sooner, treatment could have been immediate — and effective.

The symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis often include intense thirst, frequent urination, nausea, abdominal pain, rapid breathing, and confusion. These signs can appear suddenly, especially in teenagers who may not know they have diabetes.

Because the early symptoms overlap with common illnesses, they are sometimes overlooked. That is why Jack’s family believes awareness is crucial.

They now share his story widely, not only to honor his memory but to prevent similar tragedies. Their goal is to encourage both families and healthcare providers to consider diabetes in cases where symptoms seem unusual or severe.

They also advocate for hospitals to perform glucose testing more routinely when patients present with unexplained pain, breathing difficulties, or signs of dehydration.

Today, Jack is remembered as a compassionate young man whose life was cut far too short by a preventable medical oversight. His story continues to reach thousands of people around the world, prompting conversations about the importance of early screening and the need for increased vigilance in emergency care.

The Dunn family’s message is simple, powerful, and deeply emotional:

“If just one extra test had been done, our son might still be here today.”

Through their efforts, they hope to ensure that no other parent will have to experience the unbearable pain of losing a child to something that could have been detected — and treated — in time.

Jack’s legacy now lives on in the lives he may save through awareness, education, and the courage of a family determined to turn their grief into purpose.

The story of 17-year-old Jack Dunn from Porth, Wales, is one of those tragedies that leaves families, medical professionals, and entire communities asking how such a heartbreaking mistake could happen. Jack was described as a bright, kind-hearted teenager who enjoyed spending time with friends and had dreams for his future.

But everything changed in 2019 when he suddenly developed severe abdominal pain so intense that he could hardly stand upright. To his family, this was alarming from the very first moment. Jack had always been healthy and rarely complained about discomfort, so the fact that he was doubled over in pain was a clear sign that something serious was happening inside his body.

His parents made the immediate decision to take him to the emergency department. As they helped him into the car, Jack struggled to walk, clutching his stomach tightly. He told his father that the pain felt nothing like anything he had ever experienced.

His breathing was shallow, his face pale, and his voice weak. Every mile of that drive felt longer than the last as his parents feared the worst but hoped for the best, believing that the hospital would provide the answers they desperately needed.

When they arrived at A&E, the medical team performed several routine checks. Nurses recorded his vitals, ran a bladder scan, and attempted to rule out appendicitis — one of the more common causes of sudden abdominal pain in teenagers.

However, the results were not clear. Despite Jack’s worsening discomfort and difficulty breathing, the doctor on duty interpreted the symptoms as a severe case of constipation. Jack was given laxatives and discharged with instructions to rest at home and stay hydrated.

This diagnosis shocked Jack’s parents. They felt instinctively that something was not right, but they placed their trust in the professionals. They had gone to the hospital expecting urgent answers, but instead they left with uncertainty and medication that did little to address the real cause of Jack’s suffering.

As they returned home, Jack’s pain did not improve. If anything, it grew more intense.

Throughout the night, Jack experienced alarming symptoms. He struggled to take full breaths, feeling as though his chest was tightening. His energy levels dropped rapidly, and he became increasingly disoriented.

At moments, he appeared panicked — not because of fear, but because his body was shutting down. Yet the hospital had suggested that anxiety could cause shortness of breath, so the family tried to reassure him and help him stay calm.

The most heartbreaking part of this story is that Jack was not suffering from constipation or anxiety. He was in the middle of a medical emergency: diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that often develops silently in young people who have undiagnosed type 1 diabetes.

Without insulin, the body begins breaking down fat at a dangerous rate, releasing acids called ketones into the bloodstream. As ketone levels rise, the blood becomes toxic, and life-threatening complications occur. The symptoms Jack displayed — severe pain, rapid breathing, extreme fatigue — were classic signs of this condition.

Jack likely had no idea that he had diabetes. Many teenagers do not. And because no glucose test was performed in the hospital, the truth remained hidden. Tragically, this lack of early detection cost him his life.

The next morning, Jack failed to wake up. When his father entered his bedroom, expecting to check on his progress, he instead found his son unresponsive. The shock and devastation that followed changed the Dunn family forever.

A Preventable Death and a Family Fighting for Awareness

After Jack’s passing, doctors confirmed that diabetic ketoacidosis was the cause of death. The overwhelming sadness felt by the Dunn family was intensified by the knowledge that the condition is highly treatable when discovered early.

A simple blood glucose test — something that takes only seconds — would have indicated dangerously high ketone levels. Immediate treatment with insulin and fluids could have stabilized Jack’s condition within hours. Instead, the warning signs were overlooked, and a life that could have been saved slipped away.

Jack’s father, Kieron, later shared his anguish publicly. He explained that the moment he realized his son was gone was the most painful experience of his life. The family trusted the medical advice they were given, believing that the professionals had carried out all necessary tests.

But as they learned more about ketoacidosis, they understood just how easily Jack’s condition could have been detected.

In interviews, the Dunn family emphasized that the doctors’ assumption about anxiety was particularly devastating. Jack’s difficulty breathing was not psychological

Empty hospital bed on hospital ward

It was a direct sign that his organs were shutting down as acids built up in his bloodstream. Had this been recognized sooner, treatment could have been immediate — and effective.

The symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis often include intense thirst, frequent urination, nausea, abdominal pain, rapid breathing, and confusion. These signs can appear suddenly, especially in teenagers who may not know they have diabetes.

Because the early symptoms overlap with common illnesses, they are sometimes overlooked. That is why Jack’s family believes awareness is crucial.

They now share his story widely, not only to honor his memory but to prevent similar tragedies. Their goal is to encourage both families and healthcare providers to consider diabetes in cases where symptoms seem unusual or severe.

They also advocate for hospitals to perform glucose testing more routinely when patients present with unexplained pain, breathing difficulties, or signs of dehydration.

Today, Jack is remembered as a compassionate young man whose life was cut far too short by a preventable medical oversight. His story continues to reach thousands of people around the world, prompting conversations about the importance of early screening and the need for increased vigilance in emergency care.

The Dunn family’s message is simple, powerful, and deeply emotional:

“If just one extra test had been done, our son might still be here today.”

Through their efforts, they hope to ensure that no other parent will have to experience the unbearable pain of losing a child to something that could have been detected — and treated — in time.

Jack’s legacy now lives on in the lives he may save through awareness, education, and the courage of a family determined to turn their grief into purpose.