Dad recalls heartbreaking moment he woke to find four-month-old daughter dead on sofa beside him

Jamie Davison had created a makeshift double bed in his living room for himself and Alissa after their boiler broke down.

But when he woke up at 6am to check on the infant at his home in Burnley, Lancs, he discovered she was not breathing.

He and his partner Abbie Hefford – who had been sleeping downstairs with their other two children – attempted to revive Alissa but she was pronounced dead in hospital.

An inquest in Blackburn heard tests were unable to establish a cause of her death but experts said babies in "close sleeping" arrangements with others could be in peril due to quilts or pillows restricting their airways.

The tragedy occurred in May 2017 just two days after Alissa – described by her parents as a "beautiful little princess" – began sleeping downstairs with her parents and her siblings when their boiler became faulty.


In a statement Mr Davison, who is in his 20s, said: “We all moved into the living room and she would sleep with myself on the settees and Abbie and the children slept on a double mattress on the floor.

“All five of us were in good health and our baby was in good health, she never had health issues, she was not prescribed any medication ever.

“I woke up at about 6am, I was on my back, and Alissa was still on her back on the other side of the settee.

“I could tell she wasn’t breathing so I picked her up and she felt cold. I shouted for Abbie and we started some CPR straight away.

“We then went to phone for the emergency services who then arrived and she was taken to hospital.”


Dr Gauri Batra, a consultant paediatric pathologist said: “She was very grown for her age and there was no evidence of a specific cause of death. I believe this was sudden unexpected death syndrome.

“There was no evidence of abnormalities or anomalies in her system.

“Despite skeletal checks, cardiovascular checks and respiratory checks, we were unable to find evidence of what caused her death.

“There is no evidence of a severe health condition, either genetic or contracted. There was no medication in her system or ethanol. I conclude that her cause of death is unascertained.''

But she added: “Close sleeping on a regular bed, even a double bed, can increase the risk of sudden death syndrome. This includes partly sleeping on two sofas, which are not a flat surface, this can increase that risk further.

“Quilts and pillows increase the risk further of sudden death syndrome. There is a risk and possibility of the airways becoming restricted and overheating, or a combination of the both.

“In this case there are no signs of asphyxia. There are many possible causes of death. Overheating is not always possible in the young. Henceforth, the cause of death cannot be ascertained.”


Recording an open conclusion, Coroner Richard Taylor said: “Alissa was a healthy baby at the time of her death and there was her mother, her father and two other children aged two and four.

“They were all sleeping in the living room due to a broken boiler, as it was much too cold upstairs.

“They were looking for somewhere else to live and the sleeping arrangements were that the father was sleeping on the sofa with Alissa whilst the mother was on the mattress on the floor with the two other children

“On the morning of May 5, Alissa woke up at 2.30am, she was fed by her father, and she fell asleep as did he.

“He woke up at about 6/6.30am that same morning, just four hours later and sadly he sensed that Alissa was not moving or doing anything. They sought help immediately and the paramedics arrived.

“The baby was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. An investigation into her death was launched and her father provided a statement.

“Given the circumstances, this was an unascertained death, the doctor couldn’t find any complete evidence as to how Alissa came by her death and has not offered a medical cause of death.''

In Facebook message post last month Miss Hefford said: "My beautiful little princess.

"Can’t believe it has been nearly two years since you went to play with the angels, you will be in our hearts forever and will never leave our memories R.I.P Alissa Mai our gorgeous baby girl.

"You were perfect in every way and such an amazing little baby, a beautiful little girl. Sleep tight my angel."



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