The man died of a ‘catastrophic’ Covid sting reaction following outdated advice from the Vaccine Centre

Jack Hurn contracted “catastrophic” blood clots eight days after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, despite being reassured by staff that he was safe

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A 26-year-old graduate died of a rare AstraZeneca Covid vaccine complication after being given outdated information about the risk of blood clots, the Birmingham Coroner’s Court heard.

Jack Hurn, originally from Devon but living in Redditch, Worcestershire at the time, died in June 2021 less than two weeks after receiving the stab.

A week-long inquiry was told that a GP informed Mr Hurn that the risk of a blood clot in the brain was one in 250,000 for his age group – at a time when the latest NHS guidelines put it at one in 50,000.

The investigation found the Coventry University automotive design graduate later went on with his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine on May 29 after Dudley’s Revival Fires vaccination center told him they did not stock a Pfizer equivalent.

Mr Hurn became unwell eight days after the stab and died on June 11 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, despite undergoing emergency surgery. Doctors reportedly described him as having “catastrophic” blood clots in his brain.

NHS guidelines at the time stated patients under 40 should be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine, although they could make an ‘informed choice’ to receive it.

Birmingham-area coroner Emma Brown recorded a narrative verdict on Friday, saying: “It is agreed that Jack was told the risk was one in 250,000.

“There is no doubt that he made it his own.

“At the time, the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunization recommended offering adults under 40 years of age with no underlying medical conditions an alternative to AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine.

“But people could make an informed choice to get the AstraZeneca vaccine for earlier protection.

She added: “Jack didn’t have all the information to make an informed decision.

“In particular, the risk of complications for his age group was underestimated.”

Before the inquest, attorney Michael Portman-Hann said the family hoped it would help answer some of the questions they had surrounding Jack’s death.

At the time, Mr Portman-Hann said: “Jack, a first-class graduate of Coventry University, had recently bought his first house with his partner Alex Jones, who was also getting her vaccine at the same time. She only found out after his death, which he planned to propose that summer.

“Jack’s parents, Tracey and Peter, his sister, Abby, Alex and their two families are completely devastated and are still trying to come to terms with what happened. Jack and Alex asked the vaccination clinic staff about the Pfizer alternative as they were aware of concerns about using Astra Zeneca for younger people.

“Alex and Jack were reassured by the center staff that the vaccine was safe and as there were no Pfizer doses available that day, they felt encouraged by the vaccine staff to proceed with the offering.”