Boy, 2, with enlarged tonsils choked to death on sausage at Butlin's holiday park as coroner says 'NHS let him down'

A TODDLER who choked to death on a sausage at Butlin's was "let down" by the NHS, a coroner ruled today.

Two-year-old James Manning was on a trip to the holiday park in Bognor Regis with his mum and gran when tragedy struck.

The youngster, who had enlarged tonsils and difficulty swallowing, was treated by a paramedics, who had ditched the ambulance due to road closures and rushed over on foot.

He was eventually taken to a nearby hospital, but he passed away at Southampton General Hospital on June 20, 2018.

An inquest heard how the toddler had been let down by the NHS but that earlier intervention might not have saved his life.

Ruling an accidental verdict, assistant coroner Karen Harrold said: "The NHS did let James down as an earlier intervention may have reduced the chances of James choking on 6th of June, but I cannot conclude that James's life would have been saved by an earlier intervention.

"This was a fast-moving, distressing incident for everyone involved in the effort to save James's life."

Turning to his mum and gran, she said the verdict was "in no way intended to trivialise what can only be described as a horrendous occasion that occurred on the 6th of June and I am sure will remain with you for life".

"My heart goes out to you", she added.

But the tot's family, who wore t-shirts reading "Justice for James", believe he would still be alive if he had earlier treatment.

His mum Natalie told the hearing earlier this year it "seemed like everybody was just standing around" as two holidaymakers gave CPR to James.

The tragedy unfolded as the family ate breakfast in the packed Ocean Drive restaurant at the resort.

The hearing was previously told Butlin's staff did not help when the youngster began choking, which the company does not accept.

James, from Battle in East Sussex, was eventually taken to hospital but died two weeks later, on June 20, 2018.

Consultant paediatric pathologist Dr Samantha Holden confirmed James' cause of death as hypoxic ischemic brain injuries, or a lack of oxygen to the brain, caused by a cardiac arrest following choking.

Speaking after the inquest, Natalie said: "I can literally close my eyes and recall it in a second.

"The inquest obviously has been very difficult to hear because they've been repeating the events of the day several times and every appointment, and everything that's been mentioned, I was there for every second of it."

Holding an Iggle Piggle soft toy – James's favourite – she said she was not satisfied with the inquest's conclusion.

"I think it just was not fair on James."


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