An inquest into the death of Dr Mark Deakin, a consultant paediatrician who worked alongside serial killer Lucy Letby at Countess of Chester Hospital, has formally opened with indications that his death may have been unnatural. Deakin, 53, from Winsford in Cheshire, was discovered collapsed in his car on 24 June and died nine days later at hospital. Senior Coroner for Cheshire Jacqueline Devonish has scheduled a full inquest for 23 and 24 February 2027, with a pre-inquest review set for 22 January 2027.
During Letby's trial, Deakin was referred to as her "boyfriend", though he had been granted lifetime anonymity when giving evidence. Reporting restrictions were lifted following his death, allowing his identity to be disclosed publicly for the first time in September 2026.
Coroner's officer Amanda Edgar explained that an inquest was being held due to reason to suspect the circumstances of Deakin's death are unnatural. On 23 June, Cheshire Police received a welfare concern call about Deakin, who originally came from Torquay. He was located in ill-health in his vehicle the following day and transported to Whiston Hospital, where he died on 3 July.
Letby, now 36 and originally from Hereford, worked with Deakin during 2015 and 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital, the period in which she murdered seven babies and attempted to murder seven others. She is currently serving 15 whole-life sentences.
The nature of their relationship
The exact nature of Deakin and Letby's connection remained contested throughout legal proceedings. At Manchester Crown Court, Letby became emotional and attempted to leave the dock when Deakin entered the witness box to give evidence from behind a screen. His name appeared repeatedly on handwritten notes discovered at Letby's home following her arrest, with several references to "love was all we needed".
However, Deakin was never directly questioned at trial—or during the Thirlwall Inquiry where he also provided testimony—about whether he and Letby had been in a romantic relationship. Letby told the jury that the pair would meet outside work but denied they were involved romantically, characterising Deakin instead as a "trusted friend".
According to the Thirlwall Inquiry's report published on 15 September 2026, Deakin had "blurred boundaries" with Letby. The inquiry found that Deakin had contacted Letby after a mortality review for babies O and P in July 2016, demonstrating the extent of their interaction during the critical period of her crimes.
Communications and professional concerns
The scale of contact between the two became apparent through digital records. The then-registrar and Letby exchanged more than 1,300 Facebook messages during a three-month span from June to September 2016 when they worked together. At the Thirlwall Inquiry, Deakin stated that Letby had "misled and maybe manipulated" him into providing her with information about her victims.
Alder Hey Children's Hospital subsequently investigated Deakin to establish what he knew about Letby during her visits to their facility. Deakin was reportedly dismissed for gross misconduct on 23 June, the same date Cheshire Police received the welfare concern call that led to his discovery.
Context from the Thirlwall Inquiry
The circumstances surrounding Deakin's death come months after the Thirlwall Inquiry concluded its examination of how Letby was able to carry out her crimes unchecked. The inquiry found a "complete failure" to protect babies at Countess of Chester Hospital, identifying systemic failures in hospital management and governance that allowed preventable deaths and attacks to continue. The inquiry made 14 recommended changes to NHS procedures, including monitors on all cots and CCTV on insulin fridges, to prevent similar failures in future.
What happens next
The formal inquest process will now proceed in two stages. A pre-inquest review is scheduled to take place on 22 January 2027, followed by the full inquest hearing on 23 and 24 February 2027. These proceedings will examine the circumstances surrounding Deakin's death and determine the cause.
Key Facts
- Dr Mark Deakin, 53, was found collapsed in his car on 24 June 2026 and died nine days later at hospital
- He worked at Countess of Chester Hospital during the period Lucy Letby murdered seven babies and attempted to murder seven others in 2015 and 2016
- Deakin was granted lifetime anonymity during Letby's trial but was publicly named after his death in September 2026
- He exchanged over 1,300 Facebook messages with Letby between June and September 2016
- The full inquest is scheduled for 23 and 24 February 2027, with a pre-inquest review on 22 January 2027
