SA: Mother dialled 911 instead of 000

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2004
SA: Mother dialled 911 instead of 000

The South Australian Coroner has heard a young mother dialled the American emergency
number 911 instead of 000 when she discovered her infant son unconscious in a bath.

State Coroner WAYNE CHIVELL has handed down his findings into the death of seven-month-old
CHRISTOPHER SMITH, at Elizabeth East, in Adelaide's north, in November 2002.

CHRISTOPHER drowned in about 12.5 centimetres of water after his legs slipped between
holes in a baby bath seat when his mother left the bathroom to answer a telephone call.

Coroner CHIVELL has referred to evidence from AMANDA HAMLYN who says she dialled 911
when she found her son and pulled him from the bath.

She had no success with that number.

The inquest was told a neighbour dialled the Australian emergency response number of
000 after hearing the mother calling out in distress.

The inquest has also that heard that CHRISTOPHER had been in a Fisher Price Stay'n'Play
baby bath seat, which was removed from production in 1997.

Mr CHIVELL stopped short of recommending bath seats be banned nationally, but urges
regulatory agencies to consider such action.

AAP RTV clm/jo

KEYWORD: BATHSEAT (ADELAIDE)

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