Baby dies after mother is told to push during the birth and the child falls onto the floor when midwife fails to catch him at hospital in Argentina
- Tragic Valentino suffered head injuries after his mother Stefania gave birth
- His grieving father Claudio, 29, told how he witnessed the horrific accident
- Valentino was rushed to a specialist unit but died on the way
A baby died after his mother was told to push during the birth and he fell to the floor when the midwife failed to catch him.
Grieving father Claudio Mondragon said he witnessed the tragedy as his wife Stefania, 26, gave birth to their son Valentino at a clinic in Argentina.
The youngster suffered head injuries and was rushed to a specialist hospital in a neighbouring city but pronounced dead before arrival.
Claudio, 29, said: ‘My wife was in labour and was just about to have the baby and they asked her to push and she pushed so he would come out.
‘He came out really fast and no-one grabbed him and he fell to the floor. The midwife didn’t have time to catch him and the obstetrician didn’t react.’
Claudio Mondragon, 29, (right) witnessed the tragedy as his wife Stefania, 26, (left) gave birth to their son Valentino at a clinic in Argentina
An investigation is underway at Sanatorio Pronto clinic, in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, to decide whether his death was the result of medical negligence
Grieving parents Stefania and Claudio have already buried their tragic son Valentino
‘The only thing they did was lift him up from the floor and put him in an incubator and take him to another hospital.’
The freak accident happened last Thursday afternoon at the Sanatorio Pronto clinic, in the city of Gualeguaychu, about 150 miles north of the capital Buenos Aires.
The baby boy died as he was being taken to a specialist unit at San Roque Hospital, in Parana.
An investigation has been launched by a local state prosecutor to determine whether his death was the result of medical negligence and whether anyone should face criminal charges.
Valentino has already been buried in a cemetery in his parents’ home town of Urdinarrain, near Gualeguaychu.
A preliminary autopsy is said to have concluded the baby boy died from a head injury consistent with a fall.
Marina Soledad Berardo-Mondragon, a relative of the grief-sticken couple, posted a picture of a black ribbon with Valentino’s name on it alongside a white balloon on Facebook.
Replying to messages of condolence, Marina wrote: ‘Thank you all, I can’t understand what happened.’
A friend of Claudio wrote on Facebook: ‘Stay strong Claudio and Stefania. I hope those responsible are brought to account for what happened.’