An autopsy revealed that a newborn infant died after slipping beneath her mother when they both fell asleep on a sofa.
Lilly-Marie Tina Harris was only six weeks old when the tragedy occurred, shortly after her mother bottle-fed her in their Woolwich, south-east London, home.
On the evening of February 1, 2021, both parents slept asleep in the same room, but during the night her father realized something was wrong with his daughter.
Friday’s hearing was informed that he contacted paramedics around 3 a.m., and they transported her to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich.
A CT scan revealed that the infant’s brain had sustained a “severe hypoxic injury,” and she was pronounced dead late the next morning.
Lilly-Marie Six-week-old Tina Harris slipped beneath her mother when they both fell asleep on the sofa, according to an inquest. File image
Coroner Fleur Hallett decided in London Inner South Coroner’s Court that Lilly-death Marie’s was accidental.
She stated, “Lilly’s father was in the same room as Lilly and her mother.”
“After being fed, Lilly fell asleep in her mother’s arms.
He then fell asleep, and Lilly’s mother followed suit at some point.
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He then awoke with a start and was unable to see Lilly’s mother cradling her.
He approached and observed that Lilly had slid beneath her mother. Immediately, he awoke Lilly’s mother.
Lilly-Marie was moved to the Evelina Children’s Hospital in Westminster while on intubation and ventilation, but physicians were unable to revive her.
Lilly-Marie was taken to Evelina Children’s Hospital (pictured) in Westminster while on intubation and ventilation, but doctors were unable to revive her.
Paediatric and forensic pathologists concurred that the cause of death was “generalized and diffuse ischemia affecting the brain and spinal cord as a result of an unsafe sleeping environment involving close sleeping with an adult.”
The Coroner said, ‘Given the facts and the evidence we have heard, I feel it is reasonable to return a verdict of accidental death.
The reason for this is that Lilly-Marie fell asleep in her mother’s arms.
Lilly-mother Marie’s also fell asleep, and at some time during the next two and a half hours, Lilly-Marie slid below her.