Boy choked to death on Lego

A THREE-YEAR old boy choked to death on a piece of Lego just over a week before his fourth birthday.

An inquest at Heywood Coroner's Court on Friday heard how Eshaan Bilal was playing with his brother Ayaan (7) at their home in Harper Street, Oldham, when the tragic events unfolded at around 11am on Saturday, September 24.

His mother Sumreen Kossar (30) had just fed them breakfast and went upstairs to get ready when she heard a scream from downstairs.

She ran down and Ayaan told her that Eshaan was choking on a toy. His face had turned pale and his lips were purple.

She tried slapping his back but when that did not work she called out to her husband Bilal (30) to call for an ambulance.

They talked her step by step on how to perform CPR on Eshaan but he "went floppy in her arms."

The ambulance crew, who arrived minutes later, were unable to dislodge the piece of Lego which was blocking Eshaan's airways.

The boy was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital where the 3cm plastic toy was removed with forceps.

It was from a toy Lego car that belonged to his brother.

His distraught mother was by his side, asking Eshaan to get up and speak to her.

The time of death was confirmed at 12.01pm. The cause of death was given as asphyxiation due to a foreign body.

Eshaan, who attended Coppice Primary Academy, was described as a well-nourished boy, slightly taller than average who lived in a loving and supportive environment.

Sumreen said Eshaan was not in the habit of putting any objects in his mouth and was surprised by what he had done that day.

Assistant coroner Peter Sigee was satisfied that his death was not suspicious and concluded that it was accidental.