INFANT SUFFOCATED

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 February 1942, Page 4

INFANT SUFFOCATED

FATALITY AT COBDEN. The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. George Williams, 88 Fox Street, Cobden, Allan Lloyd Williams, aged 18 months, was killed in an unusual accident at his parents’ home on Saturday afternoon, death being due to suffocation. The child was put to bed by his mother at about 3.15 p.m., and she then left the house for about half an hour, two other young children of the family being then playing outside. Mrs. ’Williams returned home shortly after four o’clock, and as there was no sound from the bedroom, she presumed that the child was still sleeping, and commenced the preparation ol the evening meal. Eventually, she entered the bedroom and found the child with its head in a box ottoman, and its feet still on the floor. The lid of the ottoman was closed across the child’s neck, pressing the throat down on to the front board. The mother immediately released him and obtained assistance. Artificial respiration was applied by Dr. W. A. Bird, tor about 40 minutes, but it was unavailing. It is presumed that the child, while alone in the house, got out of bed and attempted to get into the ottoman, the lid of which fell on him. An inquest was opened at Cobden, yesterday, - before the Coroner, Mr. G. G. Chisholm, and was adjourned sine die, after evidence had been given by Dolly Williams (mother) and George Williams (father) of the deceased.