A PREGNANT woman lost the baby she was carrying after slipping in a corridor of the hospital where she worked.

Alison McLaughlin, a speech and language therapist at Burnley General Hospital, was 29 weeks pregnant when she slipped and landed on her tummy as she walked through the hospital's outpatient department on July 2 this year.

An inquest into the death of her son, William, heard how the baby was delivered by emergency Caesarean section shortly afterwards but died eight hours later.

The family today refused to comment on whether any legal action would be taken against the hospital .

Alison, of Lee Grove, Cliviger, told the hearing at Burnley that she had been walking through the outpatients department when she slipped.

She said: "I was carrying a briefcase in my left hand and an activity box in my right and felt comfortable with what I was carrying.

"I was in the vicinity of suite three and about to go through the double doors but never got that far.

"I felt my right foot slip on what felt like a wet foot print. It was a real loss of control feeling that's why I know it wasn't a trip or a stumble.

"I fell near the chairs and landed on my tummy. I wish I could have changed what happened that day."

Alison was rushed to the delivery suite where she was given an emergency Caesarean section.

The inquest heard that despite eight hours of numerous attempts to help keep premature William alive there was nothing doctors could do.

Dr Melanie Newbould, a pathologist at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, carried out a post mortem examination.

She said death was due to internal abdominal trauma.

East Lancashire Coroner Richard Taylor added: "You went to work on July 2 looking forward to the weeks before you gave up work.

"You were going about your normal duties. There were an awful lot of people milling about.

"You were carrying a briefcase and reading materials and were wearing sensible shoes as you made your way along the corridor.

"I have no evidence before me today as to what you may have fallen upon but there's no doubt in my mind that you did slip on something that caused your right leg to go from underneath you that caused you to stumble.

"That fall led to you having to have an emergency Caesarean section. The fall led to the trauma that led to your baby's death."

The coroner returned a verdict of accidental death.

No-one at the hospital was today available for comment.