CASTRIES (Daily Mail) — An investigation has been launched after a baby boy died in a tragic accident during a family holiday.
Seven-month-old Tommy Taylor-Mclean fell off of a bed on the first day of a family trip to the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, East London Coroner’s Court has heard.
The tot, from Upminster, Havering, was tragically pronounced dead in a hospital on the island on April 2.
Seven-month-old Tommy Taylor-Mclean fell off of a bed on the first day of a family trip to the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia
An inquest was opened in Walthamstow on Wednesday, April 9, after his body was repatriated to the UK.
Senior coroner Graeme Irvine said he would ask the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to help obtain key evidence gathered by the authorities in Saint Lucia.
“I will be very clear. Coroners in England and Wales have legal powers to require evidence from persons and organizations. Regrettably, those powers cease at the borders of England and Wales,” he told the court.
“We are totally lost without him, but take comfort in knowing the number of lives he touched in the short time he was with us,” his parents said
“I have to rely on diplomatic channels to get evidence from foreign jurisdictions.”
The details Irvine had of the case so far had come from repatriation papers supplied by funeral directors, he told the court last week.
“They had arrived in Saint Lucia on the first of March and early in the trip Tommy had fallen from a bed and injured himself.”
The toddler was treated by St. Jude Hospital in Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia, where doctors learned he had suffered a bleed on the brain
Initially, Tommy had seemed okay – but then his condition deteriorated and he required hospitalization.
He was treated by St. Jude Hospital in Vieux Fort, where it was discovered he had suffered a bleed on the brain.
Irvine told the inquest opening: “It seems that a post-mortem examination was undertaken in Saint Lucia.”
“The full extent of that investigation has not been disclosed to the court.”
An online fundraising page in memory of baby Tommy has so far raised more than $17,000 (£13,000) for the Saint Lucia hospital that treated him
A pediatric post-mortem ordered by Irvine has not so far resulted in a provisional cause of death. Further laboratory tests had been ordered.
An online fundraising page in memory of baby Tommy has so far raised more than $17,000 for the Saint Lucia hospital that treated him.
It described him as “the best little boy” who “brought so much joy and happiness to everyone that met him.”
Initially, Tommy had seemed OK – but then his condition deteriorated and he required hospitalization
“We are totally lost without him, but take comfort in knowing the number of lives he touched in the short time he was with us,” said a statement attributed to his parents Hannah and Matt.
The online fundraising page also praised the “wonderful doctors” who treated him.
“All the staff treated Tommy with such care and compassion, but sadly there were not the resources to operate on Tommy,” it reads.
“We would love to raise money for the pediatric ward to be able to help other children.”
“Sadly, our baby boy Tommy lost his life, but we would love to try and help save other children and babies in the future, in our precious son’s honor. He will live forever in our hearts and minds.”
“It seems that the circumstances of Tommy’s fall have not resulted in any criminal investigation in Saint Lucia. I should make that absolutely clear,” Irvine added.
“Regrettable delays that take place in the provision of pediatric post-mortem reports” meant he would have to schedule Tommy’s final inquest towards the end of the year, on November 24.
“That causes me real concern,’ the coroner said. ‘It seems to me that that will cause significant upset to the family and I’m very, very sorry for that.”
By SOPHIA STANFORD/Daily Mail
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