The tragic death of a five-week-old infant due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has come to an inquest hearing in the Dublin District Coroner’s Court. The infant was in a baby sling at the time of his death, leading to concerns about the associated risks of such devices.
The case pertains to Ruadhán Bradshaw Hall, who sadly passed away on December 21, 2022. The coroner presiding over the case, Dr Cróna Gallagher, vowed to alert the HSE about the potential dangers posed by baby carriers. However, while the jersey sling might have led to an unsafe sleeping situation impairing the infant’s breathing, this connection couldn’t be definitively established.
SIDS refers to the abrupt and unforeseen death of an otherwise healthy infant during sleep. The postmortem examination performed by Dr Michael McDermott noticed an unusual yet recognised correlation between sling usage and a heightened SIDS risk.
On the fateful day of December 10, 2022, the baby’s mother, Sinéad Hall, found Ruadhán non-responsive after carrying him in the sling. Later investigations showed the infant suffered grave brain damage due to oxygen deprivation.
The baby’s father, Keith Bradshaw, residing in Garristown, north Co Dublin, aired his wish for increased visibility of the risk posed by baby slings. He asserted that had both parents been made aware of the link between SIDS and sling use, they would have exercised more care.
Dr Gallagher stated she will reach out to HSE to prompt wider education around baby sling safety and associated SIDS risks in maternity hospitals and among General Practitioners.
Dr Gallagher declared a narrative verdict on the death of Ruadhán, attributing it to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). He also highlighted the fact that the baby was in a sling at the time, although it wasn’t the direct cause, it raised the risk of SIDS.
On the 10th of December, Mr. Bradshaw, along with Ms. Hall and their children, journeyed a small distance from their Garristown residence to a Christmas market. Ms. Hall had secured Ruadhán in a sling before they departed for the fair. Mr. Bradshaw remembered the intense cold weather, necessitating the provision of a hefty coat for his girlfriend.
During their visit to the market, Mr. Bradshaw recalled a conversation between Ms. Hall and her friend, introducing the dozing Ruadhán. After they returned home roughly 20 minutes later, Ms. Hall discovered that Ruadhán was motionless, had a greyish hue, and was bleeding from his nostrils, as mentioned in her deposition.
CPR was performed on Ruadhán by Mr. Bradshaw’s adolescent stepson, who had just completed a refresher course, at the kitchen table. Emergency services reached their residence approximately 27 minutes after dialling 999. The child was subsequently moved to Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street.
Ruadhán spent the next 11 days in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). His prognosis varied, but after witnessing a severe seizure, his parents decided it was time to “let him go,” according to Ms. Hall.
Describing the heartrending death of their son, Mr. Bradshaw remarked it was a “violent” experience that left them “navigating through the murkiness of sorrow.”
Dr McDermott confirmed that Ruadhán’s death was due to SIDS as there was evident brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation. He elaborated that precarious sleeping positions are a driving factor in nearly half of the recent SIDS cases – the danger is particularly heightened for infants asleep either on a bed or in their parent’s arms. He added that the sling in Ruadhán’s case could possibly have aggravated the perilous sleeping condition.
“An undoubtedly tragic event with no blame to be placed,” Dr. McDermott expressed his condolences.
Dr Gallagher extended condolences to the grieving family, underscoring that Ruadhán’s demise was “not the result of anyone’s misdoings”, but instead a “deeply regrettable and distressing departure”.