Crash boy died after 'refusing transfusion'

A teenager killed after a horror car smash in the Black Country died after refusing a blood transfusion because he was a Jehovah's Witness, it was claimed today.

Joshua McAuley, aged 15, is said to have declined the treatment recommended by doctors and was not overruled by members of his family. The Shireland Collegiate Academy pupil was crushed after a car careered off the road and crashed into a shop in Cape Hill, Smethwick.

It took an hour for emergency services to free the teenager from rubble after a red Vauxhall Astra smashed into the front of off-licence and grocers Saya International Foods on Saturday.

Tragic Joshua, who was pinned against the front of the shop, was flown to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham by Midland Air Ambulance suffering serious injuries to his legs and abdomen but he died six hours later.

Church representatives today said Joshua made the choice not to have the transfusion because of his faith.

Under medical law, doctors are required to decide whether a child under 16 is competent enough to consent to or refuse medical treatment without the need for parental permission or knowledge.

Jehovah's Witnesses follow the belief that blood is sacred and transfusions are prohibited by the bible.

Fellow members of his congregation at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Smethwick where Joshua and his family worshipped claimed he told doctors at the hospital: "no blood, no blood, no blood."

Clive Parker, an elder at the hall, said: "I believe he was conscious enough after the accident and he made a stand on the blood issue. He made the choice personally."

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust spokesman Gareth Duggan said they could not comment on individual cases.

"There's not one single policy and not one single law regarding transfusions," he said. "There's no automatic right to override parental wishes or that of a minor. It's a very complex area that has to be approached on a case by case basis."

Horrified neighbours watched as Joshua was pinned against the front of the shop and a woman pedestrian thrown along the street after the car hit the building.

Residents and shopkeepers rushed out onto the street, but were held back by emergency service crews, who feared the whole building could collapse after the crash at 11.15am on Saturday.

Keen basketball player died in hospital at 5.30pm on Saturday.The 24-year-old woman hit by the car is thought to have been walking with Josh and was left seriously injured and was taken to City Hospital for treatment.

A 28-year-old man from Winson Green was arrested and has been bailed.