A TEN-week-old Lancaster baby tragically died in the operating theatre as surgeons fought to stem massive bleeding, an inquest heard. Tiny Oliver Marshall had undergone an operation at Booth Hall Children's Hospital last December to look at the extent of a large brain tumour. But as a biopsy was prepared a sinus - a very thin, transparent structure hidden by the brain covering - was accidentally severed, causing massive haemorrhaging.

Surgeons' efforts to stop the bleeding with sutures and swabs met with little success and the baby suffered a fatal heart attack.

Oliver's parents, Neil and Deborah, of Lower Hardacre, Bentham, Lancaster were at the Manchester inquest to hear coroner Leonard Gorodkin return a verdict of misadventure.

Pathologist Dr Anna Kelsey said the tumour was highly malignant and agreed with consultant surgeon that it was virtually inoperable.

She said that her records at the children's hospital showed no child under the age of one with a similar malignant tumour had survived.

Mr Gorodkin said: "Had death not occurred at the time of surgery it's unlikely that this baby boy would have survived the effects of the tumour."

Mrs Marshall, a speech therapist, said she had become concerned a month before when her son had vomited four times in a day and she felt his head had grown as she was unable to put on his hat.

She took him to the doctors who referred him to Booth Hall where a scan revealed a large mass in the brain. A scan detected the tumour and a decision was taken to operate.

But a report from consultant surgeon Richard Bowles said the tragedy occurred when the baby experienced an unexpected bleed from a place where they would not normally expect a bleed.

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