Family tragically gets no answers over why their infant daughter passed away suddenly in Northampton last year, inquest hears

A Northampton family had to hear the tragic conclusion yesterday that there was no discernible reason why their 15-day-old baby girl died suddenly one morning last year.

An inquest was held yesterday (February 19) over the death of an infant girl in Northampton in 2019, who suddenly became unresponsive during her morning routine.

But at the end of the hearing into the tragedy, the parents had to leave with no answers as to what happened because the cause of death was "unascertainable".

The coroner heard how the infant - who the Chronicle & Echo has chosen not to name - was born almost a month prematurely in 2019 but was allowed to go home with her parents after a week in hospital.

The inquest heard how the girl's mother fed her 15-day-old baby one morning before turning her attention to another child for only a couple of minutes. But she then became aware how her infant daughter had fallen quiet and unresponsive.

Despite the mother immediately dialling 999 and providing first aid, and despite a fast response by a paramedic who rushed the girl to Northampton General Hospital, she could not be revived.

The inquest heard there were no obvious environmental reasons that could have caused what happened - and, in fact, a pathologist ruled the cause of death was "unascertainable".

The pathologist, Dr Malcolmson, told the coroner: "It's not impossible for babies to just pass suddenly for no obvious reason. In fact, it's something that appears in my work as a pathologist very frequently."

Senior coroner Anne Pember told the girl's family: "I cannot imagine how upsetting it is to come here today and be told that we don't know why your baby died.

"But I'm satisfied and am sure that she was lovingly and appropriately cared for by you both."

The cause of death was entered as natural causes.

In a statement read out by Mrs Pember, the mother in the case said: "As a family we are devastated at the loss of [our daughter]. Our family will never forget her."