Inquest opens into toddler's 'sudden' death

Federica Bedendoat Workington Coroners Court
BBC The entrance to Cumbria Coroner's Court building. The entrance is at the right-hand side of a three-storey building, with beige cladding on the ground floor and shelldash on the upper floors. There is a sign for the coroner's court in front of a ramp leading to the door.BBC
The inquest for James Alexander Edward Duncan was opened by a coroner in Workington

A toddler died in hospital after he was found unresponsive at home, a coroner has said.

James Alexander Edward Duncan, from Carlisle, was pronounced dead at the city's Cumberland Infirmary last July, two weeks after his second birthday.

Senior Coroner for Cumbria Kirsty Gomersal officially opened the inquest into the boy's death at Workington Coroners Court.

She said a paediatric post-mortem examination found the cause of the boy's "sudden death" was "unascertained", meaning an inquest - scheduled to resume on 23 July - was required to look into the circumstances.

"I'd like to offer to baby James's parents, his family and all those who loved him my condolences on their little boy's passing," Gomersal said.

She requested a statement from the police officer who attended the family's home on the day of the death and the outcome of any investigation.

She also requested evidence be submitted by the paramedics who attended the call and the clinician who visited the toddler and pronounced him dead at hospital.

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