A 21-year-old university student who described his headache as feeling like he “had been hit by a pile of bricks” was prescribed a nasal spray for sinusitis – and died less than 24 hours later from a brain abscess so rare it affects only one in 100,000 people, a coroner has ruled.
Cian Everett, a final-year Politics and International Relations student at Reading University and a keen rower, was found dead by his mother at their family home in New Milton, Hampshire, on the morning of 14 January 2025. The inquest at Winchester Coroner’s Court heard that an abscess measuring 4-6cm – roughly the size of a snooker ball – had developed on his frontal lobe, causing his brain to swell to 1,788g, well above the normal range of 1,300-1,400g.
Death and diagnosis
Assistant Coroner Sarah Whitby recorded a narrative conclusion of natural causes following a rare complication of sinusitis that was not recognised. The cause of death was given as raised intracranial pressure due to an intracerebral abscess, with acute meningitis also contributing. Whitby said the abscess had been developing for five to seven days before his death, while the meningitis had been present for approximately a day.
On the morning of 14 January, Cian’s mother, Gillian Everett, heard a “horrible gurgling noise” from his bedroom. She rushed in and began shaking him before calling 999 and starting CPR. He was pronounced dead shortly after 6.30am. The inquest heard that the evening before, Cian had been watching television and “bantering with his father”. His mother had left a washing-up bowl out for him in case he needed to be sick and told him she loved him before he went to bed.
Medical timeline
Mrs Everett said Cian, who had “no relevant medical history” and was described as “fit and healthy”, first mentioned headaches to her during a visit to Reading in December 2024. In early January she took him to Lymington’s Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC), but he was unable to secure a doctor’s appointment and was prescribed an over-the-counter nasal spray for suspected sinusitis.
On 12 January, Mrs Everett rang NHS 111. Cian was advised to attend a pharmacy, where he was diagnosed with sinusitis. The possibility of sepsis or meningitis was ruled out. The following day she called 111 again because of his persistent “thunderclap” headaches – which Cian described as feeling as though he had been “hit like a brick”. He had stopped his normal activities, had become “cold and lethargic” and lost his appetite.
He was told to return to the Urgent Treatment Centre, where he was seen by Dr Simon Escalon. The inquest heard that Dr Escalon had not seen specific details from the earlier 111 call. It also emerged that the UTC had previously excluded itself from handling “thunderclap” headache incidents because it lacked the appropriate equipment. Dr Escalon noted that Cian no longer had a green nasal discharge and believed his health was improving. He concluded that if Cian had an abscess, he would be “drowsy”, which he was not, and prescribed a nasal spray. Cian died less than 24 hours later.
Mrs Everett, who did not accompany Cian into the consultation because he “was an adult”, later said: “I don’t think he realised how ill he was. He was not a fusser.” She added that Cian’s GP in Reading had directed him to the Lymington centre, but his symptoms continued to worsen.
A rare complication explained
A brain abscess is an uncommon but serious complication of sinusitis. It occurs when infection from the sinuses spreads to the brain, often through the thin bones of the skull or via the bloodstream. In Cian’s case, the abscess was located on the frontal lobe – a region near the sinuses – and measured 4-6cm. The condition affects approximately one in 100,000 people, even those with healthy immune systems.
Symptoms of a brain abscess can develop quickly or over several days. They include severe headache that does not respond to painkillers, changes in mental state such as confusion or irritability, neurological problems like weakness or slurred speech, fever, seizures, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, and vision changes. A “thunderclap” headache – a sudden, excruciating head pain often described as the worst headache of a person’s life – is a critical warning sign that requires immediate medical attention.
Without prompt treatment, a brain abscess can raise pressure inside the skull – a condition known as raised intracranial pressure (ICP) – which can lead to coma and death. Other complications include permanent brain damage, epilepsy, and meningitis, as occurred in Cian’s case. The normal brain weight of a young adult is around 1,300-1,400g; Cian’s brain weighed 1,788g due to severe swelling caused by the abscess.
The Lymington UTC, which holds an “Outstanding” rating from the Care Quality Commission, is a GP-led centre that treats urgent minor injuries and illnesses. It cannot order blood tests, CT scans, MRI scans or ultrasounds, and does not provide clinical advice over the phone. Its stated policy was to exclude “thunderclap” headache cases because it lacked the equipment to investigate them properly.
The inquest also heard that processes at the surgery relating to the review of NHS 111 call notes have been changed since Cian’s death. Assistant Coroner Whitby confirmed she will publish a Prevention of Future Deaths report – a formal document issued under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 that requires relevant authorities to respond within 56 days outlining actions taken or planned.
Family tributes
Cian Everett was a final-year student at Reading University, an active rower, and a music lover. His family has established the Cian Everett Young Person’s Development Foundation to support charities and organisations that provide relief to young people in need. Fundraising events held in his memory include a skydive by his mother, a garden party, karting events and a charity volleyball match. He was posthumously awarded his Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics and International Relations on 30 July 2025.
Mrs Everett said: “Throughout his all too short time with us, Cian had an active, diverse, and fun-filled life that was encouraged and supported by a close network of family and friends. As a result, Cian had a passion for music, enjoyed many sports, loved his academic life, had a wide group of friends and was just starting to build the network of friends and contacts that were going to be the foundation of his career and future life. We were all excited to see what he was going to do next.”
His funeral was attended by more than 300 fellow students, friends and family. Dr Judith Burchardt, a GP in Reading who had worked with Cian, said: “He was a healthy young man and was a rower. He had an unremarkable medical history. I was very shocked to hear of his death and please send my condolences to his family.”