A DEPUTY coroner said hospital staff did all they could for a Darwen baby who died 14 hours after being born.

The parents of Lewis Anthony Fitzsimmons questionned whether appropriate checks and treatments were carried out at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Lewis dies after meconium - a tar-like substance of materials ingested in the womb - entered both lungs and caused a condition where blood could not transport oxygen around his body. He also had a ‘leak’ of air in both lungs.

But Deputy Coroner Elaine Block said: “Lewis had as much help as could have been given under the circumstances.

“No one could have confidently expected or accurately predicted the early course of his life.

“The treatment he was given was hoped to be right at the time.

“Everything that could have been done for Lewis was done.

“The tragedy is that despite all of it, Lewis’ short life ended.”

Lewis’ parents Samantha Grimshaw and Phillip Fitzsimmons of Belgrave Road, Darwen, attended the inquest at Blackburn Town Hall.

Miss Grimshaw, 24, described Lewis’ breathing as 'grunts' after birth and that he 'tried to cry but couldn’t'.

Midwife Moira Harrison told the hearing: “It’s not an every day occurance, but it is not uncommon for a baby to grunt as it clears the fluid in its system after birth.”

Regular observations were scheduled, but Miss Grimshaw described how Lewis took a sudden turn for the worse shortly after his birth on July 23 last year.

She said: “He didn’t look well, his eyes were rolling back and his head flopped. He was also a blue colour.

“The midwife put him under oxygen and the colour came back into his cheeks.”

Midwife Helen Caradice then ‘bleeped’ the department’s only doctor on duty - Dr Keerti Kulkami - but she was busy dealing with another baby.

Having no immediate concerns for Lewis, as he appeared to have recovered, Dr Kulkami continued her other work.

Dr Kulkami returned to Lewis after a second ‘bleep’ at 6.30am said he was becoming a 'dusky' colour.

Concerned Lewis was now in 'respiratory distress' with nasal flaring and fast breathing, registrar Dr Manikanti was called.

Resuscitation attempts were carried out, but died later that day..

The deputy coroner recorded a narrative verdict reflecting the sequence of events.