Baby dies two days after he was found trapped underneath his dead mother in Irish hospital

Baby dies two days after he was found trapped underneath his dead mother on a hospital floor in Ireland

  • Doctors checked on mother at 7am Monday and found she was in good health
  • But they returned an hour later and found her dead and laying on top of her son
  • Boy was rushed to intensive care with severe injuries, but died Tuesday night
  • Medics are investigating, but think deaths were the result of a tragic accident

A baby boy has died two days after his mother was found dead and laying on top of him on the floor of a hospital in Ireland.

Baby Darragh was found suffering severe injuries on Monday morning at Cork University Maternity Hospital, underneath the body of Marie Downey, 36, who was a married mother-of-three.

He was taken into intensive care but passed away on Tuesday night. Medics tried to revive Mrs Downey but she was pronounced dead a short time after being found.  

Marie Downey, a mother-of-three, was found dead at this hospital in Cork on Monday morning. Her days-old son Darragh suffered severe injuries and passed away on Tuesday night 

Nurses had checked on Mrs Downey, who was in a single room, at around 7am on Monday morning and were satisfied with her condition. 

But just an hour later doctors returned to conduct morning rounds and were confronted with the tragic scene. 

The hospital has opened an investigation. While the cause of death is currently unknown, the incident is being treated as a tragic accident. 

The days-old boy was discovered at Mrs Downey’s breast. She is believed to have suffered a medical episode and fallen out of bed while feeding. 

Father Eamonn Kelleher, parish priest of Kildorrery, close to where Mrs Downey lived with husband Kieran and their two other sons, described the events as a ‘tragedy’.

He told the Irish Times: ‘They are a very close community and take great care of each other and everyone feels the Downey tragedy and they are gathering here every morning to pray for the Downeys and to pray for Marie and the little boy Darragh.

Doctors have announced an investigation into Mrs Downey's death, and while no cause has been given, medics believe it was a tragic accident (file image)

Doctors have announced an investigation into Mrs Downey’s death, and while no cause has been given, medics believe it was a tragic accident (file image) 

‘They are being surrounded by support but at the same time the whole community feels helpless.’

The South South-West Hospital Group confirmed that an investigation has begun following a ‘tragic occurrence’ in the hospital on Monday.

The group, which includes CUMH, said it was supporting the patient’s family and declined to comment on the individual case.    

The purpose-built maternity hospital in Cork opened in March 2007 and offers one, two and four-bed rooms.

Darragh’s body will be taken for a post-mortem examination alongside his mother, and notes from both will be passed to the coroner.

An inquest is due to take place at Cork City Coroner’s Court in due course. 

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