Dundee boxer told doctor he was fit to fight weeks before death
25-year-old Mike Towell died the day after collapsing at the end of his bout in Glasgow
Last updated 12th Nov 2018
Boxer Mike Towell who died after a fight told a doctor he was “feeling great and ready to box” in the weeks before his death, a fatal accident inquiry heard.
Dr Scott Henderson, who’s on the list of approved doctors by the British Boxing Board of Control, saw Mike around September 6, 2016 for stomach and neck pain.
The doctor - who carried out Mike’s annual boxing medical in February 2016 - examined the boxer at the 1314 gym in Stirling, and advised him to see his GP.
He said Mike was “actively training” and had told him he only had one episode of pain in his stomach and the pain in his neck was mild.
Dr Henderson said he phoned Mike the following week and learned he had seen his GP, was “feeling great” and claimed he had had an ultrasound but didn't tell him he had been at A&E.
The doctor gave evidence at the probe into the 25-year-old fighter’s death at Glasgow Sheriff Court today
Mike, from Dundee, died of a bleed on the brain the day after he lost a bout in the fifth round to Welsh fighter Dale Evans on September 29, 2016.
Iron’ Mike, a welterweight fighter, collapsed after his loss to Evans in the British title eliminator at Glasgow’s St Andrews Sporting Club.
He was given medical treatment in the ring before being taken to hospital but died 24 hours later on September 30.
Dr Henderson said he was contacted by someone at the gym and told Mike had had abdominal pain, and went to see him on his way home from work.
He told the inquiry: “Mike described a few weeks prior to us meeting he experienced, while he was exercising, some sharp localised right upper quadrant pain between his abdomen and chest wall.”
The doctor said Mike likened it to a stitch and said he had to go down one one knee because the pain was uncomfortable, and that it hadn’t happened since.
The witness said Mike wanted to know what he felt it could be and the doctor put forward a suggestion of trapped wind or a stitch and if the symptoms return could be gallstones and he should be checked out by his own GP.
Dr Henderson said Mike asked “You’re not going to contact the board about this?” and he told him he didn't think he needed to at this stage.
The inquiry was told Mike said he didn’t have a headache, but had mild neck pain on both sides just under his skull which the doctor said "on the balance of evidence" was a muscular injury.
Dr Henderson said he phoned Mike “about a week later”. He said “Mike advised he attended his GP and had bloods and an ultrasound.”
He said he suspected there was no ultrasound because it would be too quick.
Asked what he said, Dr Henderson replied: "He told me he had no ongoing symptoms, the abdominal pain hadn't returned.
"He was feeling great and ready to box."
Dr Henderson said Mike didn't tell him about about intermittent headaches in the period before that or going to A&E at Ninewells hospital on September 11.
The inquiry previously heard form Mike’s GP Dr William Oswald who prescribed him aspirin after he complained of migraines and neck pain.
Dr Osward, of Calside Medical Practice in Dundee, told Mrs Beadsworth that Mike came to see him in September 2016, accompanied by his mother.
Dr Oswald told the court that Mr Towell said he had had headaches for two weeks, predominantly on the left side of his head.
Mr Towell had been to the accident and emergency department at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee the previous day after experiencing head pain during a sparring session.
The A&E consultant who examined him gave him painkillers and advised him to visit his GP.
Dr Oswald said that he examined Mr Towell's pulse and blood pressure and they were normal.
He added: “I examined his eyes and found no abnormality there. He complained of headache and neck pain and indicated the left side of his head.
“It was my feeling that we were dealing with a headache problem related to his neck. I suggested to Mr Towell that I didn't think there was anything worrisome going on.”
Dr Oswald said that Mike wondered if a CT scan should be carried out and added: “I think I asked is that not something your boxing doctor would organise for you.”
Mrs Beadsworth asked: “Did you consider a CT was required,” and the GP replied: “No, I didn't think a CT scan was required.”
He added: “He mentioned headaches and his mother mentioned migraines. I prescribed 20-30 tablets of aspirin to be taken two to three times a day as required “
Dr Oswald told the court aspirin is issued in NHS Tayside to patients complaining of migraines.
Ms Beadsworth asked Dr Oswald if he though he should have ordered a CT scan and he replied: “I didn't judge there to be a red flag. There seemed to be other explanations for the headaches. He had an opinion from an A & E consultant the day before who found him clinically well. He was walking and talking normally.”
Dr Oswald said that he told Mike to speak to his boxing doctor and added: “I had no reason to believe he wouldn't do that.”
The inquiry before Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull continues.