Child strangles on straps of toy
The mother of Ellie Lowes discovered her daughter hanging from one loop of the toy, which is carried like a rucksack, while another was caught on a cupboard handle the coroner was told. The child had been watching a video in her sister’s bedroom and had probably tried to hang up the toy when she fell over on the bed and got her head caught in the strap.
Although the toy, distributed by the Buena Vista home entertainment’s company, complied with safety standards, child safety expert Dr Sara Levene told coroner Ian McCreath she did not consider it suitable for children. No members of Ellie’s family were present at the hearing yesterday at South East Northumberland Magistrates Court, but a statement from her mother, Melanie, was read out.
