In a heartbreaking incident, a five-month-old baby tragically died while sleeping in his parents’ bed. The inquest into the death of Leo Shaun Williams was opened after he was found unresponsive at his home in Porth. Coroner’s officer Keeley Mason revealed during the inquest opening in Pontypridd that Leo’s mother had put him to sleep in his crib next to her bed after a feed at 11.30 pm on November 11, 2023. She recounted how Leo’s mother woke around 1.30 am to his cries, picked him up, cuddled him, and fell back asleep with him in her arms in the bed.
At around 4.30 am, Leo’s mother woke to find him lying face down beside her in bed. When she turned him over, she discovered that he was unresponsive. Despite immediate CPR efforts and ambulance attendance, Leo was pronounced dead. A postmortem conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Stephen Leadbetter on November 14, 2023, concluded the provisional cause of death as unexplained sudden infant death. Leo’s family formally identified him on November 12, 2023, following which South Wales Police reported the tragedy to the coroner.
Assistant coroner for south Wales, Kerrie Burge, expressed the need to open an inquest into Leo’s death, considering the circumstances. She adjourned the full inquest to a later date, citing the suspicion of an unnatural death pending further investigation. Condolences were extended to Leo’s family for their profound loss. The inquest will proceed at a future date to delve deeper into the tragic passing of little Leo Shaun Williams.
The community mourns the loss of this young life, reflecting on the fragility of infancy and the importance of safe sleeping practices for babies. The tragedy serves as a poignant reminder for parents to adhere to recommended guidelines for infant sleep safety to prevent such heartbreaking incidents in the future. The inquest will seek to uncover further details surrounding Leo’s untimely passing, providing answers and closure for his grieving family.