Baby drowned after bath seat slipped into water

A nine-month-old baby died after her bath seat slipped and partially submerged her in water, an inquest heard.

Scarlett Randall was found face down and in cardiac arrest by her mother at their home in Brentwood, Essex, on 13 January 2024.

Essex coroner's court heard she died three weeks later on 5 February after being intubated at the Royal London Hospital.

Concluding Scarlett's death was an accident, area coroner Michelle Brown said: "The sorrow and pain they must feel as a result of this doesn't need explaining."

Ms Brown said the mother had only left the room "briefly" and it was "a moment of misjudgement" that did not amount to neglect.

Scarlett's cause of death was delivered on Friday as a hypoxic or ischemic brain injury and drowning.

The court was told how multiple efforts were made to keep the baby alive despite the "significant, irreversible" brain injury she sustained.

Ms Brown said after extensive discussions about Scarlett's long-term prognosis, a decision was made to put her on palliative care.

The bath seat had been purchased second hand, but expert evidence given to the coroner showed it did not have any defects.

"It's just a tragic situation and my sympathies really [go] to the family," Ms Brown said.

"I can't begin to understand what they must be going through."

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