Birthing pool baby died after ‘near-drowning incident’

A NEWBORN baby boy died as a result of an “acute near-drowning incident” while being delivered in a birthing pool at Cavan General Hospital last year, an inquest heard yesterday.

Consultant pathologist, Dr Peter Kelehan told Dublin City Coroner’s Court that baby Harry Eccles died three days after his birth as a result of complications from inhaling a quantity of freshwater.

However, the case was adjourned after lawyers for Cavan General Hospital demanded to call their own expert witnesses because of their dissatisfaction with the pathologist’s findings.