Coroner is unable to find cause of death into baby boy who died at 26 days old after suffering lung haemorrhaging – as police raise concerns about ‘untidy’ home
- Baby Joseph Tissington was found ‘not breathing’ in Moses basket at around 7am
- Joseph’s mother and father Fiona and Philip Tissington are expecting baby girl
- Mr Tissington’s ex-partner, Sinead Rogerson, had been staying with the family
- Assistant coroner told the hearing Ms Rogerson’s baby, Theo, had also died under similar circumstances with haemorrhaging in the lungs a few years ago
An inquest into the death of a baby boy who died at just 26 days old has been left with ‘unanswered questions’ after he was found ‘cold and unresponsive’ in his Moses basket last year.
Joseph Tissington was found ‘not breathing’ at around 7am at his home in Jacksdale, Nottinghamshire on July 27 2021 after suffering ‘significant lung haemorrhaging’ – with no evidence of natural disease, infection, trauma or injury.
It comes as baby Joseph’s mother and father Fiona and Philip Tissington are expecting the arrival of their daughter, Renezme-Josefina, in seven weeks.
During an inquest at Nottingham Council House last week, the hearing was told Mr Philip’s ex-partner, Sinead Rogerson, had been staying with the family at the time and sleeping on an airbed.
Ms Rogerson, 32, told the hearing that Fiona and Philip were struggling to sleep because Joseph ‘was a hungry baby’, and he was subsequently moved into her room for a couple of nights.
Ms Rogerson said she noticed ‘Joseph’s chin was not moving’ and proceeded to give him CPR before calling for the parents.
However, Assistant coroner Dr Elizabeth Didcock told the hearing Ms Rogerson’s account was ‘different to the account of the police on the morning of his death’ and she had ‘forgotten to include the part about her trying to resuscitate baby Joseph’.
Dr Didcock also told the hearing that Ms Rogerson’s baby, Theo, had also died under similar circumstances with haemorrhaging in the lungs. Nottinghamshire Police investigated the matter at the time.
Parminder Dhillon, Detective Inspector of Nottinghamshire Police, who also attended the inquest, said Fiona and Philip’s two-bedroom house was ‘cluttered and messy’ and he had ‘concerns about the room being untidy’.
Baby Joseph’s mother and father Fiona and Philip Tissington are expecting the arrival of their daughter, Renezme-Josefina, in seven weeks (Pictured: Fiona Tissington)
Joseph Tissington (Pictured) was found ‘not breathing’ at around 7am at his home in Jacksdale, Nottinghamshire on July 27 last year after suffering ‘significant lung haemorrhaging’ – with no evidence of natural disease, infection, trauma or injury
Recalling the days before the tragedy Ms Rogerson, from Lincolnshire, said she had arrived at her ex-partner’s house with her three children during the summer break.
Assistant coroner Dr Elizabeth Didcock said Ms Rogerson had been the first one to notice Joseph ‘was not breathing’ shortly after she woke up at around 7am to go to the toilet.
Joseph’s mother Fiona, who said she was ‘in shock’ at the time, called the ambulance while Philip continued to perform CPR on baby Joseph.
Dr Didcock questioned the events of the night and told the hearing: ‘I accept the account taken by the police that he was put down to sleep on his bed in a vest and nappy because it was hot.
‘He was fed around 3.30am and he was fed well. Sinead woke up and went to the toilet and on the way back she found Joseph unresponsive. She told the court today she picked him up, put him on the floor and tried to resuscitate him.
‘I find this account to be different to the account of the police on the morning of his death. She said today she had forgotten to include this part. She thought she had attempted to resuscitate him for a couple of minutes before putting him back in his basket before Phil arrived.
‘I find there was a short delay in calling for assistance. But it is unlikely this had made a difference and a sooner ambulance call would be unlikely to have made a difference.’
The emergency services arrived at the address and Joseph was taken to King’s Mill Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Joseph’s mother Fiona (pictured at his grave) said she was ‘in shock’ at the time of the incident and called the ambulance while Joseph’s father Philip continued to perform CPR on baby Joseph
Assistant coroner Dr Didcock said no concerns over injuries to the baby were noticed or discovered while he was in the emergency department.
Following Joseph’s death, a post-mortem was conducted by Dr Michael Biggs at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
While he concluded the cause of death was ‘unascertained’, he said there was iron staining in his lungs from haemorrhaging a few days prior, -which can sometimes be attributed to an ‘airway obstruction’.
However the coroner said Dr Biggs could not entirely exclude it was a natural death.
Detective Inspector of Nottinghamshire Police, Mr Dhillon said: ‘As part of our investigation we looked into Philip and Fiona’s history. We have also found that Sinead had a baby that passed away in similar circumstances a few years ago.’
However, the force concluded there was ‘no substantial evidence’ for any criminal activity or link between the two baby deaths. But the inquest was told this was considered to be a potential risk factor ahead of the birth of Mrs Tissington’s next child in seven weeks.
Concluding the inquest, assistant coroner Dr Didcock said: ‘I worry about the risk to the [unborn] baby. We have some unanswered questions and I will therefore record an open conclusion. I thank the witnesses and of course I express my sincere condolences. I am so sorry for the loss of Joseph.’
She added she would ask that Nottinghamshire’s social services remain in contact with the family ahead of the birth of their daughter.
After the inquest the parents said they feared there were complications in the days before Joseph was born when Fiona was admitted to hospital.
Philip said ‘he had the umbilical cord wrapped around his head twice’ but, within a few minutes after being born, Joseph began crying and his colour returned. Joseph then had a stay in intensive care as a precaution.
Speaking outside the Council House following the inquest, Philip said: ‘In the fleeting time he was here he was great. The only time he would cry is if he was hungry or he needed his nappy changing. He was content just sitting there staring at you. He had big feet for his age.’
Fiona added: ‘I’ve got his actual hand and footprints on the side of my leg. We thought they were going to put it down to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). He was amazing.’
The family said they understood the coroner was ‘on about the risk factors when she (Renezme-Josefina) is born’.
Philip added his ex-partner will be moving out before their daughter, Renezme-Josefina, is born, and said: ‘It was cluttered, yes, but it is less cluttered now’.
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