Daisy Phillipson
A mum has issued a heartbreaking warning about the potential dangers of blinds after her ‘beautiful’ son died.
Natasha Ogden’s one-year-old son was playing with his brother in their family home in Greater Manchester when the tragedy unfolded.
An inquest into Kane Davidson’s death heard how Natasha left the room for just a short moment, only to return to find he was gone.
When she went looking for him in the front bedroom, she discovered he’d gotten caught in the blind cord.
Advert
The distraught mum called Kane’s dad, Calum Sr, who immediately alerted their nurse student neighbours.
They performed CPR on the toddler until the arrival of the emergency services, and he was rushed to Royal Oldham Hospital before being sent to Manchester Children's Hospital.
Although he was treated for brain damage, this was withdrawn on the advice of doctors and Kane sadly died on 1 February this year.
Natasha is using the painful experience to speak out on the dangers of blinds so that ‘other families don’t have to go through this’.
Following the inquest at Rochdale Coroners Court, she said: "He was a beautiful boy. You only had to look at him to melt at his cheeky smile.
"I need people to realise the blinds are dangerous. I don't want any other families to go through this."
During the hearing, assistant coroner Edward Morgan identified a number of issues in relation to the blind leading up to Kane’s death, which was ruled as accidental.
Despite the introduction of Blind Cord Safety Regulations in 2014, Morgan learned that the landlord hadn’t replaced the fixture before the family’s arrival in 2020.
Samantha Cox, a member of Oldham Council's environmental health team, also said the blind wasn’t ruled as a risk during an inspection when the landlord received a licence.
Cox explained that although the council was aware of the risk, the blind cord was not on the checklist, which was based on a national Housing Health and Safety Rating System.
She went on to say that the council will be reviewing this in the future, adding: "Since this tragedy, we've contacted all authorities in Greater Manchester and no one looks for this.
"Something needs to be done because it's not being addressed by anyone."
Morgan agreed and committed to writing to both Oldham Council and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities about the issues.
"Other people will be made aware of the tragedy you've suffered and the risks their children might be exposed to as a result of the same problems,” he said.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677