Boy died after swallowing 5cm screw

A 13-month-old baby boy died after ingesting a 5cm metal screw that lodged deep in his windpipe.

Mikolaj Gajos, from Castle Oak in Bandon, Co Cork, died last July after swallowing the screw, which became wedged at the entrance to his lungs. It was positioned so deep medics did not know it was there.

Doctors and paramedics fought desperately to save the child’s life but the screw only became apparent after an X-ray was carried out.