Devastated mum collapsed and died hours after finding her baby dead in bed
A mum who died 14 hours after her five-month baby passed away in a co-sleeping tragedy uttered the harrowing question: "Is my baby dead?", an inquest has heard.
Emergency services were called to Kevin Deguitas's home in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, in the early hours of August 9 last year.
They had received reports that the baby was not breathing and had gone cold in what experts believe may be a co-sleeping tragedy.
Ambulance crews battled to save him and rushed him to the Royal Stoke University Hospital, but he was pronounced dead.
His mum Viktorija Mardosiene, 32, later checked into the Harplands Hospital mental health unit and told staff there she was bereft at the death of her child.
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While there, the Lithuanian national went into cardiac arrest and later died at the same hospital as her son.
North Staffordshire coroner Duncan Richie has now opened and adjourned the inquests, stating further research was needed.
Mum Viktorija died hours after her baby (Stoke Sentinel/BPM Media)At the hearing into Kevin’s death, a statement was heard from PC Tyler Lowe, who said: "The living room was extremely cluttered with boxes and toys all over the floor.
"We heard from the paramedics that he was not getting any air and a tube was inserted into his mouth and throat.
"We approached Viktorija to make inquiries, she said: 'No English'. We kept some distance. She was on the phone to the baby's father asking: 'Is my baby dead?'. She began to cry.
"We heard how she had taken the baby to bed, sleeping, at 11pm. At 1:34am we heard doctors had ceased CPR and stopped life care. Viktorija was then conveyed to hospital."
DC Craig Flowers, from Staffordshire Police's child protection unit, described the conditions in the house.
DC Flowers said: "It would be fair to say the house was found in some state of disarray. I went to the address the day after and can confirm she was sleeping in a double bed. There were empty cans of alcohol in the bedroom.
"Viktorija was breathalysed at the scene and her level was found to be 40mcg/ml. The drink driving limit is 35.
“It is fair to state she was in an understandably upset state. She was screaming, shouting and rocking back and forth screaming 'kill me'.
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Mother and son both died at Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent (Stoke Sentinel/BPM Media)"There had been concerns about domestic issues in the past. There was a history of contact between emergency services and the couple."
Evidence was heard from consultant paediatric pathologist Dr Roger Malcomson who said that a thorough post-mortem examination had been carried out on Kevin.
Dr Malcomson added: “There were no significant internal or external injuries. His body weight was average and his head circumference was small,
relatively, and his body length was long for his age. There was no abnormal pattern of growth and he was adequately nourished.
"His internal organs were normally arranged and there was no metabolic abnormality. There was no significant finding, there was a mild degree of congestion and some small haemorrhages but we see those very frequently and they are very difficult to ascribe cause.
"What we are left with is a baby who has died co-sleeping with a parent.
There is no specific medical cause of death after a comprehensive autopsy.
"There are problems associated with co-sleeping including overlaying. There is also a risk of hypothermia and restricting of airways. There is nothing sufficient to suggest a specific cause of death.
"I would consider an unascertained cause of death. With the debate of if this was a natural or unnatural death, I don't think there is sufficient evidence to suggest either way."
An inquest opened into Ms Mardosiene's death heard she was voluntarily taken to Harplands where she complained of chest pains.
Later that afternoon, she suddenly collapsed and was confirmed dead at 3.53pm - just 14 hours after the death of her baby.
Dr Oluwafemi Popoola, a specialist in psychiatry, said: "She was met by the deputy ward manager and had periods where she was distressed and crying uncontrollably. However, she did engage well with the service. She had an elevated blood pressure.
"She collapsed in the hospital and CPR was done. Paramedics arrived at 3.05pm and took her to Royal Stoke with a suspected cardiac arrest.
"She had not reported any self-harm or suicide prior to the death of her son. However she was saying 'kill me'. She had no previous contact with mental health services. She was given diazepam before her death. The dosage was the appropriate and safe amount given."
A toxicologist's report showed while there was a small amount of diazepam,
there were no traces of drugs or alcohol in her system. There was not enough to indicate drug toxicity.
Dr Andrew Hitchcock, the coroner's pathologist who carried out a post-mortem examination, said: "There were no external injuries. However,
there was a granular material found in the abdomen. It looks like the medication that people take, the sort you see in open capsules.
"It looked like a pharmaceutical substance although I cannot say for certain. It was certainly taken by mouth.
"On the balance of probability, I cannot identify exactly what the medical cause of death. The granular materials themselves were non-toxic as there was no mention in the report. They would have been taken within 14 hours of death but I cannot say exactly when."
The inquests were adjourned to a later date while more evidence is requested.
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