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Flesh-eating bug killed top economist in 24 hours
Last updated at 00:22am on 12.01.07
David Walton: Tributes from Gordon Brown and Bank of England governor
A leading economist suffered an agonising death when a horrific flesh-eating bug took over his body in just 24 hours.
Doctors watched helplessly as David Walton, 43, was struck down by necrotising fasciitis.
Mr Walton was a member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, which is responsible for setting interest rates.
Following his death last June, Chancellor Gordon Brown called him one of the UK's leading business economists and a highly respected commentator on economic affairs.
An inquest in Gloucester heard that Mr Walton, who was married with children, was admitted to Cheltenham Generall Hospital the evening before his death, complaining of fever and stomach pain.
Soon he began to show signs of the flesh-eating disease.
One doctor, Warren Doherty, said: It seemed to spread before our eyes, down the thigh, growing up towards the shoulder and chest.
The necrosis was progressing in front of us and it was clear that he would die.'
Mr Walton was moved to the high dependency unit and died there in the early hours of June 21.
Pathologist Dr Keith McCarthy confirmed the cause of death as necrotising fasciitis, caused by the flesh-eating bacteria streptococcus pyogenes.
He said the disease attacked several areas of Mr Walton's body including his back, groin and legs, causing large blisters.
There was no entry site for the bacteria, but that is not always necessary, he said.
It may enter through a wound, but it can also occur with the infection of an organ – such as the kidneys.
From the way it developed in this case one would assume it started in the urinary tract.'
Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore recorded an open verdict, saying it was impossible to tell whether the infection had started naturally or through an unknown unnatural cause such as an injury.
He developed the signs and symptoms of necrotising fasciitis very rapidly, and, as accords with my limited experience, the progress was so fast that even the doctors treating him were able to describe it as spreading before their very eyes,' he said.
Mr Walton's wife, Nicola, attended the inquest but did not wish to comment.
Mr Walton, who was educated at Durham and Warwick universities, started his career as an economist at the Treasury from 1984 to 1986.
He joined investment bank Goldman Sachs in 1987, where he became its Chief European Economist.
In June 2005, he became a policy maker on the Bank of England's rate-setting committee.
On the day of his death, the Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, said: All our thoughts are with David's wife, his young children and his parents.
David inspired the respect and affection of all his colleagues the Bank, and this news has come as a shock to us all, as will to those who knew him in the City, where he made his reputation as an economist.'
Oxford University has created the David Walton Distinguished Doctoral Scholarship in economics in his memory.
Necrotising fasciitis is a rare infection of the deeper layers the skin and tissues and requires immediate medical treatment, which may include amputation.
Around 30 per cent of sufferers do not survive.
Streptococcus pyogenes causes a range of illnesses, from mild skin infections to life-threatening diseases.
Infections typically begin the throat or skin and can spread to deeper layers of skin and tissue.
The bacteria has also been linked to pharyngitis or strep throat' and scarlet fever.
