A CORONER wants all doctors to be alerted to a rare skin infection which killed a young marine from Bournemouth.

Dr Elizabeth Earland wants the country's chief medical officer to warn GPs about Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), a highly dangerous toxin which led to the death of 18-year-old Richard Campbell-Smith - described by his senior officers as "a fantastic recruit."

The teenager died of cardiac and respiratory failure at the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, two-thirds of the way through his initial training.

An inquest heard how the marine had taken part in a vigorous training programme the week before his death.

Soon after, he began to suffer a pain in his hip and on October 31, he was admitted to the unit's medical centre.

During the early hours of November 2 he was found on the floor by his bed with breathing difficulties. He died shortly afterwards.

Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Alistair Allsop said another patient had an infection in the medical centre at the same time as Richard, but there was no evidence of cross-contamination.

"He was very jovial, interacting well and was a nice, likeable recruit. There was no indication he was that unwell."

Dr Marina Morgan, a consultant in medical microbiology said Richard's count of white blood platelets was extremely low.

She added: "It would indicate to me he was in severe septic shock. This tragic case highlights the difficulties in early diagnosis."

Richard died of cardiac and respiratory failure and Dr Earland recorded a verdict of accidental death, recommending that information on the symptoms of the infection be passed to GPs in a bid to ensure early diagnosis.

Edwina Fooks, Richard's grandmother, said his family was devastated when he died. "He was a very, very well-liked and a lovely young man," she said. "He was dedicated to the Marines. He was doing what he wanted to do. He worked hard and got on very well." Lympstone CTC spokesman Warrant Officer Simon Wright said: "He was doing exceptionally well and was almost on the home straight."

WO Wright said: "On Monday night he fell out of bed. Two other lads on the ward were woken by him falling out and called the duty staff.

"They found he was suffering from difficulty breathing and he was taken to the RD&E at around three or four in the morning. He died a couple of hours later. "

PVL is a toxin contained in some bacteria. It weakens the immune system by attacking white blood cells.

PVL can be passed between people in close communities in the same way as MRSA. Medical experts have warned it can lead to fatal outbreaks of pneumonia, especially in young people.

Richard was a former pupil of Winton and St Peter's schools and a keen runner and surfer. He worked as a lifeguard at the Littledown Centre.

First published: May 23