An inquest has heard that a nine-month-old boy who choked to death at an Ashford nursery experienced a cardiac arrest and suffered from neurological damage.
On September 23, 2021, Oliver Steeper choked and died six days later at Jelly Beans Day Nursery in Ashford.
At the Maidstone hearing on Monday, the coroner read aloud portions of a post-mortem examination report written by pathologist Dr. Charlotte Randall.
Oliver’s mother, Zoe Steeper, had already expressed concerns before the inquest about staff not pureeing his meals.
Oliver “suffered unrecoverable neurological damage,” according to Dr. Randall’s study.
Her conclusion was that cardiac arrest had resulted from choking.
“Food fragments were eliminated from the respiratory tract,” the pathologist verified.
Oliver’s underlying medical condition did not predispose him to a choking episode, the jury was informed.
Oliver, who only had two front teeth, was eating pureed food at home, and nursery staff had told his parents that solids may be blended before giving them to him, according to prior testimony given at the inquest.
After being admitted to the William Harvey Hospital, the infant was later moved to the Evelina London Children’s Hospital, where he passed away.
The next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
Oliver and the other three kids were being fed by another member of the nursery staff.
When questioned if feeding four kids at once was typical practice for the staff, Ms Collins responded, “No, not really.”
She was also questioned over a risk assessment that the nursery had created, which recommended blending all infant food to a consistency that is “fluid-like rather than solid.”
Although she did not remember using it, she did admit to the inquest that there was a blender in the building.
Oliver, who only had two front teeth, was eating pureed food at home, and nursery staff had told his parents that solids may be blended before giving them to him, according to prior testimony given at the inquest.
After being admitted to the William Harvey Hospital, the infant was later moved to the Evelina London Children’s Hospital, where he passed away.
The Maidstone inquest is still ongoing.
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