A heartbreaking incident occurred when a 9-month-old baby girl, on a visit to her grandparents, tragically died after getting caught in her car seat harness while drinking a bottle of milk.
Coroner Janet Anderson emphasised the critical importance of never leaving young children unsupervised in child restraints, even for short periods.
The infant, a twin born in November 2019, was initially left in the family van to finish her bottle while her parents and siblings visited inside. Despite frequent checks, the baby was found unresponsive within minutes, leading to severe brain damage and her eventual death four days later.
The coroner’s investigation revealed that the baby’s car seat was not properly secured, with a loose harness that allowed her to slide and become entangled.
The tragic event underscored the necessity of adhering to safety warnings and using child restraints correctly. Plunket’s website and other resources stress the importance of proper harness use to prevent such accidents.
Parents and caregivers needed to remain vigilant and ensure that safety devices are always used as intended to avoid such devastating outcomes.
Image credit: Al Soot
Tragedy
Imagine having to face that
Condolences