Rhiannon Ingle
A nine-month-old baby tragically passed away after choking on his lunch at nursery.
Back in 2021 (September 23), Oliver Steeper died six days after he choked at Jelly Beans day nursery, based in Ashford, UK.
An inquest has since been launched after the child's mother, Zoe Steeper, grew concerned that her son's food was not being pureed by staff.
The grieving mother said she found chunks of pineapple in her son’s vomit when he was violently sick on 16 September 2021.
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The inquest heard how Mrs. Steeper wanted to speak with nursery staff after finding the pineapple chunks.
She said: "He had been given fruit salad at nursery. It was clear it wasn't pureed. I said I was going to speak to the nursery the following week."
She also told jurors that she considered emailing the nursery immediately, but didn't want to 'rock the boat' or make staff feel she was 'being pushy'.
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At the inquest, Mrs. Steeper was also asked if anyone at the nursery had asked for her permission to start trying Oliver, who only had two front teeth, on non-pureed food to which she said no.
She also said that Oliver didn't have any previous history of choking, adding: "The majority of his food at home was purees."
The inquest went on to hear how Oliver, who only had two front teeth, had been only eating pureed meals at home.
His parents had also been assured by nursery workers that solids could be blended before being fed to him.
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"We assumed that food would be pureed. He wasn't able to chew. That made us extra cautious," Mrs. Steeper said.
Mrs. Steeper said she attempted to raise the issue of the pineapple chunks with staff in person when she dropped him off on 23 September, but said: "I felt rushed because I was dropping him off late. The lady I gave him to seemed rushed. Another child was holding her leg."
The inquest heard how the mother then received a phone call at about 11.30 BST the same day saying her son had choked on his lunch and was with paramedics.
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“[The paramedic] was running out with Oli in his arms doing chest compressions. I abandoned my car and ran," she recalled.
Little Oliver was taken to the William Harvey Hospital before being transferred to Evelina Children’s Hospital, in London, where he later sadly died.
The inquest in Maidstone continues.
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.