Infant Death Occurs While Co-Sleeping in Temporary Accommodation

An inquest has revealed that a five-month-old infant, Hailey Thompson, passed away while sharing a bed with her parents in temporary accommodation where a cot was not supplied. Her father discovered her unresponsive on April 2 at Seatrade House in Colchester. Michelle Brown, the area coroner for Essex, indicated that she could not dismiss the possibility of Hailey’s death resulting from her parents rolling over. Following a post-mortem examination that failed to establish a cause of death, Ms Brown delivered an “open” conclusion, stating: “The only conclusion I can return is one of open.” A spokesperson for Colchester Borough Homes stated that cots are provided upon request in their temporary housing facilities. However, they confirmed that Hailey’s situation is currently under review “with the utmost care.” The spokesperson further added: “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family during this unimaginably difficult time.” The Essex coroner’s court was informed that Hailey’s parents, then aged 23 and 22, joined her in bed around midnight on April 2. Ms Brown recounted: “We’re told her dad woke at about 06:00 BST and found her unresponsive between them.” An ambulance was summoned by Hailey’s father, and she was transported to the hospital, where her death subsequently occurred. Although her parents were initially arrested on suspicion of causing or allowing the death of a child, Essex Police later discontinued the investigation. Ms Brown noted that the family resided in temporary housing which offered only a single bed and no cot for the infant. Nevertheless, she emphasized the absence of evidence directly linking the sleeping arrangement to Hailey’s death. The coroner further stated: “It’s not unusual that when… sleeping with a child, deaths like this sometimes do occur but there is no evidence of suffocation or asphyxiation.” The court heard that the parents had alcohol in their systems upon their arrest by the police, but it was noted that “they were not significantly under the influence.” In her concluding remarks for the hearing, Ms Brown stated there was “no identifiable evidence of a specific natural disease process,” indicating that a definitive cause for the infant’s death remained undiscovered.