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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Thomas George

Tragic death of one-month-old baby boy found unresponsive in Moses basket

A one-month-old baby died after being found unresponsive in his Moses basket, an inquest has heard.

Jacob Grice was 'floppy and blue' when he was discovered by his mother at their home in Kearsley, Bolton, on March 24 of last year.

Chantelle Johnstone tried desperately to resuscitate her son before he was pronounced dead at hospital that same day, an inquest at Bolton Coroner's Court heard today (Friday).

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The hearing was told that Jacob had been born at Royal Bolton Hospital on February 24 following a 'normal pregnancy'.

Although 'small for his age', he was allowed home with his mother a few days after his birth, said police coroner's officer Marquita Hogan.

She told the inquest that in the weeks that followed, Jacob developed oral thrush - for which he was prescribed medication by his GP - as well as a nappy rash.

Despite this, Jacob was 'feeding well' and appeared 'fine' on the day before his death.

On March 23, Ms Johnstone took Jacob out with her while she ran some errands and met up with family, the hearing was told. She then returned home and fed Jacob before putting him to sleep.

Jacob was pronounced dead at Royal Bolton Hospital on March 24 of last year (Manchester Evening News)

After feeding her son again at about 1am, Ms Johnstone placed him in his crib with his dummy, and a blanket tucked under his arms. At 8.45am, she went to check on her son and became concerned that he 'did not look right', said Ms Hogan.

Ms Johnstone lifted Jacob from his Moses basket and noticed he was 'floppy and blue'. She dialled 999 and called for an ambulance while she tried to resuscitate Jacob.

Paramedics arrived at the address soon after and Jacob was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead the same morning.

Ms Johnstone has been left 'devastated' by her son's death, the inquest heard.

Paediatrician Dr Joanne Ashworth told the hearing that concerns had been raised in relation to Jacob's 'sleeping environment' prior to his death, but did not provide any further detail.

Pathologist Dr Michael Staunton said a post-mortem examination had been unable to explain how the baby boy had died, and gave Jacob's cause of death as 'unascertained'.

Detective Inspector Jonathan Waywell, of Greater Manchester Police, told the inquest that Jacob did not have any visible injuries and there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Delivering his conclusion, coroner Peter Sigee ruled that Jacob had died of 'natural causes'.

He added: "Jacob's death was caused by sudden unexpected death in infancy."

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