Third death is linked to a bug outbreak at Cambridge’s world-renowned Royal Papworth Hospital 

A third death has been linked to a bug outbreak at the world-renowned Royal Papworth Hospital, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Aaron Green underwent a double lung and heart transplant at the hospital, which allowed him to have his dream wedding. 

But just months later, he suffered devastating complications and died, aged 26.

His widow Julie, 28, said: ‘It’s difficult to find the words to describe the last few months and trying to come to terms with what happened. 

‘What’s even more worrying is that a number of patients at the hospital around the same time were diagnosed with infections, with serious consequences.’

Mr Green was found to have the rare bug mycobacterium chelonae, which attacks bone and skin tissue, six months after his June 2019 operation. The same bug had been discovered in the hospital’s water supply.

In August 2019, the deadly bug mycobacterium abscessus was also found in the supply after the hospital moved to a new £200 million site in Cambridge. A total of 21 patients were infected, five of whom had received transplants. 

Last month, we revealed a coroner had launched an investigation into the 2020 deaths of Karen Starling, 54, and Anne Martinez, 60, who had been infected with it.

Inquests into all three deaths are due to be held later this year.

The families are represented by Jatinder Paul, of law firm Irwin Mitchell, who said: ‘They have all been devastated by what happened.’

Royal Papworth contests that Mr Green’s death is linked to the same outbreak, saying: ‘There has never been a recorded outbreak of mycobacterium chelonae at our Trust.’

In August 2019, the deadly bug mycobacterium abscessus was also found in the supply after the hospital moved to a new £200 million site in Cambridge. A total of 21 patients were infected, five of whom had received transplants