Teenager died from malignant tumour, not cancer jab

Teenager Natalie Morton died from a malignant tumour in her chest and not from a reaction to the cervical cancer jab, it was revealed today.

Deputy coroner for Coventry Louise Hunt told Natalie's parents that the current indication was that the vaccine was not a contributing factor in her death.

Opening and adjourning the inquest at Coventry Magistrates' Court, she said: "It appears that Natalie died from a tumour in her chest involving her heart and her lungs."

Natalie, 14, collapsed less than two hours after being given a cervical cancer vaccination at Coventry's Blue Coat Church of England School on Monday.

Natalie's mother Elaine Bullock and stepfather Andrew Bullock, paid tribute the 14-year-old outside the court.

They said she was a "kind and fun-loving teenager with a beautiful smile".

Mr Bullock said: "Natalie was a wonderful daughter, sister and granddaughter.

"She was kind, fun-loving and had a beautiful smile.

"Natalie had a strong personal faith in God. We know that she has gone to heaven to be with her saviour, Jesus."

He added: "We now know that Natalie's death was the result of a serious underlying medical condition and most probably nothing to do with the vaccine that she had at school on Monday."

Mr Bullock went on: "We understand that further tests are being carried out to discover the exact cause of Natalie's death."

Natalie's stepfather and mother expressed their gratitude to Blue Coat School headteacher Julie Roberts and her staff, and also thanked paramedics and hospital staff.

"We have seen the flowers and the messages of love and support laid at the cross in the school grounds," her stepfather added.

The inquest was told that the tumour in Natalie's chest had "heavily infiltrated" her heart and extended into her left lung.

Home Office pathologist Alexander Kolar told the 15-minute hearing that Natalie's condition was "so severe that death could have arisen at any point".

Dr Kolar gave the official preliminary cause of death as tumour of the chest, type to be diagnosed.