The "shattered" family of a well-loved Swindon man who died unexpectedly have launched an awareness campaign to help others like him. For the past several months, a series of fundraising events called Danny’s Day have been taking place in Swindon. But who is Danny, and what are they raising money for? Danny Lynch, 40, was extremely popular and well-known in his local Pinehurst community.
Having to contend with complex learning difficulties didn’t set him back at all. He loved women, horse racing, Diet Coke and food. He loved trainers, doing puzzles and football .
He was happy and loved life. He died unexpectedly last year following complications that arose during surgery at a hospital in Bristol. The family has since formed the charity Ask Danny, which aims to raise awareness of people with complex learning difficulties in hospitals and to ensure that learning disability nurses have more say in the care of patients with learning difficulties.
Danny Lynch (Image: Ask Danny) This is partly because mum Maria, 57, believes there were serious failings at the Bristol Royal Infirmary with healthcare professionals not understanding Danny’s needs and not listening to her. Maria says she regularly clashed with staff at the hospital over what Danny needed during this time and that it was a "living nightmare". Danny initially had successful heart surgery but complications during a subsequent tracheotomy led to him needing to be resuscitated.
But he was effectively braindead, and Ma.