Investigation and inquest
On 12th October 2014 I commenced an investigation into the death of Efan Robert James then aged 7 weeks. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 23rd April 2015. The conclusion of the inquest was an open conclusion.
Circumstances of the death
(1) Efan Robert James was placed into a bed his mother was sharing with a friend. Some hours later he was found to be unresponsive. He was administered CPR. He was taken to hospital where life was pronounced extinct.
(2) A post-mortem examination was undertaken and the cause of death was given as sudden unexplained death in infancy whilst bed-sharing.
Coroner’s concerns
That the advice given by Welsh Assembly Government in the publication “Reduce the risk of cot death” is confusing. It suggests that parents should not share a bed with their baby if they “feel very tired”. Parents of young children will frequently feel tired and gauging whether they are “very tired” is an unrealistic test.