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Family of Greenhithe toddler who died after choking on cocktail sausage 'considering legal action'

The family of a two-year-old girl who died after choking on a cocktail sausage say they're still looking for answers after their daughters death.

Mia Atkins died at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford on Sunday, July 1, 2018, after her airways were blocked when she was eating the snack.

Mia Atkins, 2, from Greenhithe, died last year after choking on a cocktail sausage
Mia Atkins, 2, from Greenhithe, died last year after choking on a cocktail sausage

The inquest at Maidstone's Archbishop's Palace was originally opened in August but was adjourned after two days and resumed today.

During the first hearing it was revealed that when Mia arrived at the Dartford hospital the endotracheal tube, which is meant to be placed in the windpipe, was in her oesophagus and that this could have reduced her chance of survival.

A post-mortem result gave the youngster's cause of death as upper airway obstruction.

The court heard how Ms Ranger struggled to get through to the emergency services, only managing to reach a call handler a few minutes later on the third attempt.

"It was quite disappointing. It's been a tough year-and-a-half..." Beth Ranger

By this time Mia had become unconscious and was in cardiac arrest.

Ms Ranger performed CPR while an ambulance was dispatched to the property in Cutty Sark Court, Low Lane, Greenhithe.

Paramedics worked on the tot before making the decision to put in an endotracheal tube, which should be placed through the mouth into the windpipe, to try and get oxygen into Mia’s body, before taking her to Darent Valley Hospital.

On arrival, Ms Ranger was taken to a family waiting area with her sister while Mia’s dad, who lived in London, was picked up by Metropolitan Police officers and brought to the hospital.

After a scan, Ms Ranger was given the news her daughter was classed as brain dead and there was no sign of brain activity.

Mia Atkins, 2, died at Darent Valley Hospital last year
Mia Atkins, 2, died at Darent Valley Hospital last year

The family was able to say their goodbyes before turning off her life support machine. Mia died seven minutes after it was turned off, at 4.08am.

Speaking after the inquest, her mother Beth Ranger and father Liam said they were "disappointed by the basic conclusion" and felt some of the findings were inaccurate.

Ms Ranger said: "It was quite disappointing. It's been a tough year-and-a-half and we thought it was quite a basic conclusion."

They are now considering legal action following Mia's death.

During the final day of the inquest South East Coast Ambulance Service paramedic James Lyle revealed that at the time of the tots death numbers of emergency call handlers were "grossly under the required level" for the Trust.

Archbishop's Palace, Maidstone (20323280)
Archbishop's Palace, Maidstone (20323280)

However, since then he has made a number of recommendations to try and improve this, but explained retention of the call handlers job was tricky because of the "high levels of stress caused".

Coroner Roger Hatch made a number of findings, including that giving the two-year-old a small sausage was "unwise" and there had been a delay in reaching a call handler.

He also made a finding that the endotracheal tube was found in the wrong place, however, also added Mia's chance of survival from choking was "extremely slim".

For more information on why we cover inquests, click here.

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