Girl, seven, who suffered with muscle disorder dystonia died after she was found not breathing in her bed with pillow covering her face, inquest hears
- Freya Evelyn Pattinson was found unresponsive in bed at her home in Sale
- She died just hours later at Wythenshawe Hospital on January 30, 2017
- An inquest heard she was found in bed with a pillow covering her face
A seven-year-old girl with a muscle disorder died hours after she was found not breathing in her bed with a pillow covering her face, an inquest has heard.
Freya Evelyn Pattinson was found unresponsive at her home in Sale, Greater Manchester, on the morning of January, 30, 2017.
Her mother, Lisa Daniels, performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until paramedics arrived, Manchester Coroner’s Court heard.
But a short time later Freya died at Wythenshawe Hospital.
Following a post-mortem examination, Freya was formally diagnosed with dystonic cerebral palsy, also known as dystonia or ataxic cerebral palsy.
The condition causes involuntary muscle contractions and can affect the whole body.
Freya Evelyn Pattinson was found unresponsive at her home in Sale, Greater Manchester, on the morning of January, 30, 2017. Her mother, Lisa Daniels, performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until paramedics arrived, Manchester Coroner’s Court (pictured) heard
The post-mortem report suggested the condition could have caused developmental delays and poor growth.
The night before her death, Freya went to bed at her ‘usual time’, the inquest heard.
A relative checked on her at around 3am and she seemed fine, but when they went to wake her up for school at around 7am, she was found unresponsive and wasn’t breathing.
Freya died at Wythenshawe Hospital (pictured). Following a post-mortem examination, Freya was formally diagnosed with dystonic cerebral palsy, also known as dystonia
The court, sitting at the Royal Exchange, heard Freya was lying across her bed at a 90-degree angle, wedged between two cushions.
One pillow was covering her face, the coroner was told, causing an ‘upper airway obstruction’.
Manchester’s senior coroner, Nigel Meadows, heard a ‘lengthy’ medical investigation followed. A police probe was also launched.
A ‘very extensive’ toxicology report was carried out by forensic pathologist Kirsten Turner, the inquest heard.
Samples of Freya’s hair were collected for analysis and traces of cocaine and cannabis were found.
Ms Turner suggested the traces could have come from inhalation; environmental conditions; or from coming into contact with the substances.
She said there was nothing to suggest deliberate inhalation by the child. Recording an open conclusion, Mr Meadows said he was unable to confirm Freya’s cause of death.
Mr Meadows said: ‘The reports have been unable to explain an identifiable cause of death. The medical cause is unascertained and an open conclusion has been recorded into her death.
‘I offer my sincere condolences to Freya’s family and I apologise that it has taken so long for the inquest to be held due to the pandemic.’
Following the hearing, Ms Daniels, on behalf of her family, said: ‘It’s been a tough few years. Every minute of every day that Freya was here, she was adored, loved and cherished by all her family.’