Coroner's sympathy for baby death couple

Bolton Coroners' Court heard how Logan Wallworth-Braithwaite was well cared for after being born on June 19 and being taken home from hospital by his parents, Marttine Wallworth and Scott Braithwaite.

Ms Wallworth, who has three older children, told area coroner Alan Walsh that she had no problems with Logan, who was feeding and had no illness.

The baby slept in a moses basket beside his parents' bed at their Ruskin Road, Little Lever home.

Ms Wallworth told the court that on June 28 she took Logan out in his pram, explaining that he was "cranky" but she had no concerns about him.

That evening she fed and washed him and he was put to bed in his moses basket at 12.30am.

In a statement read by Mr Walsh, Ms Wallworth, who was breastfeeding her son, said that in the night she picked Logan up to feed him and then fell asleep.

At 5.20am, when the couple woke again, they found Logan unresponsive.

The emergency services were called and the baby was rushed to hospital, where staff attempted to resuscitate him, but their efforts were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead an hour later.

Home office pathologist Philip Lumb told the court that the baby had no injuries and had not been suffering from an illness.

He added that Logan may have died a couple of hours before being found by his parents, but it had not been possible to establish a cause of death.

DCI Chris Mossop stressed that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Logan's death or concerns about the family.

"There was evidence of a well-cared for baby," he added.

Mr Walsh recorded an open conclusion into Logan's death because its cause could not be established and described it as "sudden and unexpected."

He told Logan's parents: "As a father and grandfather of three children I find it unimaginable how you are affected by the death of Logan.

"(His life) was all too short and all too limited.

"I am satisfied he had a perfect home life.

"I am truly sorry."