A mother shared the heartbreaking moment she woke up and found her baby boy ‘blue’ as he was sleeping between her and her partner.
Ifan George Torlop tragically died after he slipped down the bed between his parents, who woke up to find him blue on August 2, 2020.
His mother Alana Bailey noticed her 13-month-old son was covered by the duvet and ‘did not seem right,’ the Wales Online reported.
Bailey’s partner Samuel Torlop performed CPR on the child while waiting for emergency services to arrive.
An inquest has heard how the father was woken by his panicking partner as their child had been sleeping in their bed.
Neighbors rushed to the house when the mother screamed ‘help me, help me!’ as they wait for an ambulance to arrive.
One neighbor who entered the house described seeing ‘a little boy motionless in the bed.’
Emergency services arrived but were unable to resuscitate the child.
The inquest also heard that it was a regular occurrence for the child to sleep in the bed with his parents because he would not settle in his crib since coming back from a hospital where he spent days with bronchiolitis – a lower respiratory tract infection that affects young children and babies.
The night before his death, his parents had visited Mr. Torlop’s father’s home before going to Miss Bailey’s mother’s house.
They had dinner and Mr. Torlop had ‘two bottles of beer’ and Miss Bailey had ‘two glasses of wine.’
South Wales Police detective constable Ian Wozencroft said that officers arrived at the home in Loughor and were informed by paramedics that the child had died.
“After a call from the ambulance service police officers were deployed to the scene where a crime scene was identified and assessed. They recovered a number of exhibits and officers activated their body-worn cameras. Voluntary urine samples were supplied and two baby bottles,” he told the inquest.
A toxicology report found alcohol levels of 164mg per 100ml in Miss Bailey’s urine and 81mg per 100ml in Mr. Torlop’s.
Reading a statement on behalf of detective inspector Peter Collins, Mr. Wozencroft said: “The child displayed no injuries that caused any concern.
“Co-sleeping is known to be unsafe and we know health visitors had warned the parents about these dangers. There was no doubt that the child was cared for, clean, and brought up in a loving environment.”
Dr. James added: “He was found in the middle of the bed but under the duvet. We know sudden infant deaths are more likely to happen when a baby is too warm or in a position that’s not ideal. If you are intoxicated you are less aware of the baby’s position.”
Assistant coroner for Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Aled Wyn Gruffydd said: “Ifan was a fit and well boy. He was well cared for, appropriately nourished, and clean. His cause of death was unascertained and there was no evidence of overlaying. The consumption of alcohol is a risk when co-sleeping as you are less aware of your baby sleeping.
“This is a tragic case and the parents’ worst nightmare. My deepest condolences go to them.”
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