19-month-old toddler suffocated after falling down gap behind his mother’s bed while watching TV, inquest hears, as coroner rules death was ‘tragic accident’
- L-Jay Leon Crossling Meads died at the family home in Grove Hill, Middlesbrough
- He fell down the side of his mother’s double bed before being rushed to hospital
- Pathologists ruled toddler died from asphyxia, Teesside Coroner’s Court heard
A 19-month-old toddler died as a result of a ‘tragic accident’ after falling down a gap behind his mother’s bed, an inquest has heard.
L-Jay Leon Crossling Meads had been watching TV with his siblings at the family home in Grove Hill, Middlesbrough, on January 29, last year.
But when his mother went to check on them a few hours later she found the youngster’s legs ‘protruding out of the bed and far side wall’.
He was rushed to James Cook University Hospital but had sadly passed away.
A hearing to determine the circumstances surrounding the toddler’s death was heard at Teesside Coroner’s Court on Wednesday.
L-Jay was described as a ‘well cared for baby’ who lived with his mother and two older siblings.
Pathologists ruled the toddler died from asphyxia.
A 19-month-old toddler died as a result of a ‘tragic accident’ after falling down a gap behind his mother’s bed, an inquest at Teesside Coroner’s Court (pictured) heard on Wednesday
Coroner Karin Welsh said: ‘The circumstances provided to the pathologists were that all three children I think had got into their mother’s double bed and were watching television.
‘They had got into that habit since Christmas.
‘At around 11, all three children had gone to sleep and the mum was carrying out household chores.
‘At 1.50am she had gone to check on the children and sadly found L-Jay’s legs protruding out of the bed and far side wall.’
Ms Welsh added that the mother was ‘alert to the gap’ and had put a ‘duvet there to prevent problems’.
Emergency services immediately attended the property and the toddler was rushed to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.
However, despite the best efforts of medical professionals, he was sadly declared dead.
Emergency services immediately attended the property and the toddler was rushed to James Cook University Hospital (pictured) in Middlesbrough
Examinations found L-Jay was a ‘well cared for baby’ and was ‘well developed’.
Pathologists ruled the toddler died from asphyxia.
Cleveland Police carried out an investigation into the sudden death and were satisfied it was a ‘tragic accident’.
Officers deemed there was ‘no third party involvement’ in the youngster’s death.
The Teesside and Hartlepool assistant coroner ruled the toddler died as a result of an accident.