Girl choked to death on hot dog

Girl choked to death on hot dog
A three-year-old Hampshire girl choked to death while eating a hot dog and chips at home, an inquest has heard.

Ruby Lea became unwell while having dinner with her five-year-old sister at their home in Redwood Grove, Havant, on 28 March.

Her father held her upside down and hit her on the back but she went "floppy".

The Portsmouth coroner David Horsley said the events could not have been foreseen or prevented. He recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The inquest heard on Tuesday that family friend Darryl Silver noticed Ruby had become quiet after her mother Joanne Lea had served the girls hot dogs in crusty rolls with chips.

He held her upside down and hit her on the back but she went all floppy

Det Sgt Fiona Bitters
Hampshire Police
Ruby's father, Matthew Knight, then rushed to help his daughter.

Det Sgt Fiona Bitters, of Hampshire Police, said: "The children were talking and giggling while eating their dinner.

"Darryl noticed Ruby looking at him and he asked her 'Ruby, are you all right?'.

"At this point he realised something was really wrong and she might be choking - her mouth was open and she wasn't making any noise."

She added: "Matthew literally pulled Ruby out of her seat, turned her around, placed her face down on his knee and slapped her on the back several times to clear her airways.

"He held her upside down and hit her on the back but she went all floppy. Her face was grey and her lips blue."

Det Sgt Bitters told the inquest that a neighbour trained in first aid came to the family's aid and began to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the youngster.

Ruby was later taken to the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham, Portsmouth, where medics tried to resuscitate her.

She was pronounced dead later that day. Source: Dog News