THE father of a five-month-old baby gave his son mouth to mouth in a desperate attempt to save his life an inquest was told.

Five-month-old Muzzamil Hussain was found in his bedroom by his mother at 6.30pm on July 23 not breathing. He died from 'cot death'.

At the inquest into his death in Burnley, his father Musawar Hussain confirmed to acting East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor that his son had been pale yellow in colour and he immediately phoned the emergency services.

Mr Taylor said: "You attempted resuscitation but unfortunately when you went in the ambulance you were told he had died?"

Mr Hussain said: "Yes."

Pathologist Dr W D Salman said there were no obvious post mortem findings to explain his death. He said microscopic samples showed the baby was either recovering or developing a viral infection, but it was not overwhelming. He gave the cause of death as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Recording a verdict of natural causes, Mr Taylor said: "This inquiry was necessary because the nature of the death has to be investigated.

"One of the purposes is to make as thorough an inquiry as possible as to how your baby came by his death, unfortunately the conclusion from those inquiries is that in effect it has not been ascertained.

"All he (the pathologist) can say is there is some evidence of a viral infection, whether on the way out or on the way in, and his conclusion was that your baby died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome which is recognised as how some babies of that age die.

"In effect while your baby died not of something which is medical. On balance I have to conclude his cause of death was natural."