Confusion over how long a Maidstone mother was pregnant for did not contribute to the death of her baby son, a coroner has ruled.

Paramedics were called to the home of 26-year-old Erica Balcomb on Surrey Road just after 7.30am on August 16, 2017, to reports she was suffering abdominal pain and bleeding.

En route to Tunbridge Wells Hospital, despite only being 23 weeks pregnant, she gave birth to Callum Clark, who was given CPR by paramedic Martin Nee in the ambulance after finding no response from the baby.

The survival chances of a baby born in a hospital, in a reasonably good condition, after 23 weeks are around 30%, of which half are seriously handicapped, an inquest heard - yet by contrast, those born in such circumstances at 22 weeks have a survival rate of just 7%.

However, the court was told a communication breakdown meant hospital staff believed her gestation period was only 22 weeks, and therefore a neonatal team was not summoned to meet the mother and baby upon arrival, as would have been the case at 23 weeks.

Furthermore, there was also a lack of crucial equipment available that morning, such as stethoscopes, which could have been used to monitor the baby's heart rate.

Resuscitation attempts were stopped and Callum was eventually pronounced dead at 1.30pm.

However, while hospital bosses admitted the confusion was regrettable, they argued the fact Callum had not responded to resuscitation attempts in the ambulance, and that a post mortem had identified an ascending genital tract infection, meant the same tragic outcome would most likely have occurred regardless.

Coroner Roger Hatch agreed, concluding: "On the balance of probabilities, I find Callum Clark, when born, was suffering from an infection which adversely affected his chances of survival.

"There was doubt as to whether the gestation period was 22 or 23 weeks, and this should have been checked from the medical notes at the time.

"It's unfortunate no stethoscope was available but with experienced midwives, they were able to assess the heartbeat by touch.

"I am satisfied that Callum Clark's chances of survival were unlikely and that appropriate steps were taken in this respect.

"I am satisfied that the correct conclusion is that the death of Callum Clark was due to natural causes. May I express my sympathies to the family."