16-month-old toddler strangled to death by a window blind chord while playing with toys at grandparents’ home
Child was playing with a toy hoover and had only been left alone for a few minutes when she got caught on the chord and suffered ‘catastrophic injuries’
A TODDLER has died after becoming tangled up in a window blind chord at her grandparents’ home.
Bronwyn Taylor, who was 16-month-old, died as a result of strangulation while playing with a toy hoover in a bedroom.
An inquest found yesterday that the tragic tot got her neck caught inside a beaded cord loop and fell to the ground on April 2.
The young child suffered catastrophic injuries and was found by her grandmother, retired nurse Shirley Taylor, 66, who desperately tried to resuscitate her.
Ambulance crews dashed to the house in Fegg Hayes, Stoke-on-Trent, after receiving a 999 call at 3.30pm and rushed her to hospital.
But Bronwyn suffered a cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead when she arrived at Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Assistant coroner David James described the death as an “utter tragedy” and implored parents to ensure their blinds are safe.
Recording a conclusion of accidental death, he said: “I can see plentiful use in me asking, imploring, advising, stressing to landlords, homeowners, parents, grandparents and local authorities, the importance of double-checking and ensuring all window blinds and fitments are safe.”
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He added: “Bronwyn was happily playing in an environment she was familiar and content with, with her adoring grandparents and brother.
“After only a few moments on her own, her young life was so tragically taken when she became entwined in the window blind cord.”
Bronwyn had only been on her own for a matter of minutes when she became stuck, after parents Cathy, 42, and Matthew Taylor, 40, took their other two children to the theatre.
In a statement, Bronwyn's grandmother Shirley Taylor explained the accident happened while she had been outside for a few moments and when her husband Barry, who had to be taken to hospital following the incident, was asleep.
She said: "Barry had gone to bed as he always had an afternoon sleep. I went into the kitchen and Bronwyn came in with me.
“I pointed at the oven and said 'burn' even though it wasn't on and she went off into the living room.
“I put some stuff in the washer and the tumble dryer and went into the garden.
“I came back in looking for Bronwyn and went into a bedroom where I found her with the cord under her chin.
“I picked her up and shook her. I rushed into the living and gave her mouth to mouth.
“Barry assisted but was also taken ill and to hospital as a consequence of what happened.
“The blind goes from the ceiling to the floor and the cord is always tied up by the drawers.
“I couldn't understand how it came off the drawers. It was an accident that needn't have happened.”
Devastated father Matthew said at the time: “Our whole world has been blown apart. Parents should never have to bury their child.
“My mum and dad have been blaming themselves but we don't blame them. It was a freak accident. We are all devastated.
“She was adored by everyone. So many people would come over to her wherever we were and say hello. Bronwyn was a little star.
“But then reality hits me and I realise she is never coming back.”
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