'Our son died because two hospitals let him down'

The family of a schoolboy who died two weeks after being attacked today blamed two hospitals for failing to save his life.

Iyke Nmezu, 16, was hit twice with a brick during a street fight yards from his home in Edmonton on 15 February - the fifth teenager to be murdered this year.

He suffered a serious head injury and was rushed to North Middlesex University Hospital but doctors said the scanner was not working and sent him home with painkillers.

His brother Nigel, 18, then took him to Homerton Hospital but again he was just given painkillers.

On 26 February Iyke's father Mannie Nmezu took him once more to North Middlesex hospital but he was refused a scan on the grounds that he was "too young". Finally on 29 February North Middlesex gave Iyke a CT scan which revealed a massive clot on his brain. He died hours later.

Iyke's funeral was today and Mr Nmezu told the Evening Standard: "If they had done something from day one my son would have survived. They caused his death. It is common sense to scan a head injury. "

A post-mortem examination confirmed Iyke died from a fractured skull. A spokesman for Homerton hospital said: "We are sympathetic with the family. It is never easy losing a 16-year-old."