By Jemma Carr For Mailonline

Devastated mother demands answers after her son, 20, with muscular dystrophy suffered a seizure and died less than 12 hours after receiving a Pfizer jab

  • Luke Garrett, 20, died after suffering a seizure in Tarbolton, South Ayrshire
  • Mr Garrett had muscular dystrophy and had been shielding for around a year 
  • But he died in the early hours of the morning the day after getting the jab
  • Mother Tricia Garrett, 49, believes son would still be alive if he didn’t get the jab
  • MHRA are investigating his death but there’s no evidence of jab causing seizures

A heartbroken mother has demanded answers after her son died less than 12 hours after receiving the Pfizer vaccine.

Luke Garrett, 20, suffered a fatal seizure brought on by a sudden spike in his temperature at his Tarbolton, South Ayrshire, home in February, his mother Tricia Garrett, 49, said.

Mr Garrett had muscular dystrophy and had been shielding for around a year so was ‘excited’ when his turn to get a vaccine meant he could finally ‘live his life’.

But he died in the early hours of the morning the day after getting the jab, leaving his family ‘devastated’ and desperate for answers.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are investigating Mr Garrett’s death – but there is no evidence of the jab causing seizures. 

Muscular Dystrophy UK – a charity supporting people with the condition – said there is no link between those with muscle-wasting conditions and vaccine side-effects. 

Mrs Garrett, 49, described ‘foam coming out of his mouth’ during his seizure – and told how she gave her dying son CPR as they waited for paramedics to arrive. 

Tricia Garrett, 49, has demanded answers after her son Luke Garrett, 20, (pictured) died less than 12 hours after receiving the Pfizer vaccine

Mother-of-two Mrs Garrett said: ‘I didn’t want him to get it. Luke had been shielding for about a year. 

‘He used to have support workers who came in three times a week, he also had high-functioning autism and needed support for that but he cancelled it all because he was that scared of Covid.

‘He was excited about going to get his Covid jab and being able to get back out into the world and live his life.

‘It wasn’t even 12 hours after his Covid jab that he died. 

‘His whole body was in horrendous pain, he had a really high temperature; normally with his condition, his legs can end up in pain but this was different.

‘Before he died, the arm he got the injection in was really painful.

‘He then suffered a seizure, which has never happened before.

‘He started to fit and there was foam coming out of his mouth.’ 

Mrs Garrett, 49, (pictured with her husband Shaun Garrett, 49) believes her son would still be alive if he didn't get the Covid jab that day

Mrs Garrett, 49, (pictured with her husband Shaun Garrett, 49) believes her son would still be alive if he didn’t get the Covid jab that day

‘I phoned 111 about 1am and told them somebody needs to come out. I thought he needed a muscle relaxant to help with the terrible pain. 

‘A nurse told me they would send someone out within two hours, she was really detailed with everything, she asked about temperature and muscle pain.

‘They promised they would call back within the two hours, but no one called.

‘Instead, I received a call at 4am to ask if Luke still needed help. I just told them, “my son is dead”.’ 

Mr Garrett was given the vaccine at Ballochmyle Medical Practice shortly after 3pm on February 8.

My midnight he was unwell. Paramedics rushed to help Mr Garrett, but nothing could be done to save him. He died around 2.30am.

He was just ten days away from celebrating his 21st birthday. 

Mrs Garrett – who lives with her husband Shaun, 49, and 18-year-old daughter Anna – told how she gave her son CPR while they waited for paramedics to arrive.

She added: ‘I was giving him CPR on his chest whilst on the phone to 999.

‘The paramedics didn’t have a clue what had caused it, they just tried to give him adrenaline but there was nothing more they could do.’

The MHRA are investigating into Mr Garret’s death – as they do with all ‘serious suspected adverse drug reactions’, a statement said.  

Mrs Garrett added: ‘Our son was fit and well, doctors used to say he was one of the better patients they had seen.

Mrs Garrett - who lives with her husband Shaun, 49, and 18-year-old daughter Anna (pictured together) - told how she gave her son CPR while they waited for paramedics to arrive

Mrs Garrett – who lives with her husband Shaun, 49, and 18-year-old daughter Anna (pictured together) – told how she gave her son CPR while they waited for paramedics to arrive

‘He would visit a clinic yearly and would have heart checks every six months because muscular dystrophy can affect your heart.

‘He was on heart drugs that were just as a preventative measure.

‘The post-mortem showed his heart was in a perfect condition. He had never had a seizure before.’ 

A spokesperson for MHRA said: ‘We are saddened to hear of this loss, and our thoughts are with the family.

‘As with any serious suspected ADR, reports with a fatal outcome are fully evaluated by the MHRA, including an assessment of post-mortem details if available, to consider whether the vaccine may have caused the event, or whether the event and fatal outcome were likely to be purely coincidental and due to underlying illness.

‘The MHRA also continuously monitors the nature of adverse events reported with the Covid-19 vaccines including reports of seizures and convulsions. 

‘The current evidence does not indicate an association between the Covid-19 vaccines and onset of seizure events in people with or without a prior history of seizure.’

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