A 17-year-old student who under went corrective dental surgery at the Dental Institute developed post surgical complications and later died at its Recovery Unit, this was revealed t the inquest held into to the death of Godiyana Arachige Nuwan Madushanka (17) a student of Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya by Additional City Coroner Ashroff Rumi on April 4.

AJMO S.R.P. Samaranayake who held the Post mortem stated that cause of death was under investigations.

Giving evidence at the inquest Godiyana Arachige Rohitha of Kosgoda said that he had two children. The deceased had passed last year’s GCE Ordinary Level Examinations with seven A’s.

He said that his son had under gone corrective dental surgery at the Dental Institute, where titanium plates were surgically implanted in his mouth. The boy previously stammered but after surgery the defect was rectified.

However, around 4.00 a.m. his son began to vomit blood. When he summoned the nursing staff he was assured that it was normal to vomit and told "not to be afraid". A tube was inserted to the patient but the tube came off due to vomiting.

Witness however noticed that the medical staff had become restive.

Blood was given to the patient who was subsequently put on a life supporting machine.

Hospital staff had told him that the patient had developed fever. Later, his son was taken to the Recovery Unit. But he was told that had they had brought him earlier there could have been a chance for survival.

His son died at the same unit.