Toddler choked to death on lollipop

A toddler choked to death after a lollipop got lodged in his throat.

Francis Dean, two, from Manchester in England, was taken to hospital when the sweet got stuck, but he died in the ambulance.

His brother Michael, 13, had spotted Francis in distress and tried to take the lolly out of his mouth, but the stick came away in his hand.

Francis’s father David, a gym instructor, and mother Dawn, a manager for First Choice holidays, urged Swizzels Matlow, the manufacturers of the lollipop, to print clearer warnings on sweets.

Mrs Dean, who was away at a business conference when the accident happened, told the Daily Mail: “We’re absolutely devastated. We would urge the manufacturers to put warnings on each individual lolly or to make them smaller. I’d just say to other parents, you can never be too cautious.”

The little boy will be buried today at All Saints Church, near the family’s home.

Swizzels Matlow currently prints a warning on its bags of lollipops but not on individual sweets.

A spokesman for the manufacturer said: “All at Swizzels Matlow were devastated to hear of the tragic death of two-year-old Francis Dean.

“Most of us at the company are parents and we can only imagine both the pain and anguish that Mr and Mrs Dean are currently facing.

“Our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy goes out to both family and friends. As soon as we are furnished with more details we will of course mount a full investigation as a matter of priority.”