A BABY girl born with a rare heart condition died at the age of just five weeks when a pump fitted to help pump blood around her body became blocked.
Emily Kingscott, from Berkeley, had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare congenital condition where the left ventricle of the heart is severely undeveloped.
Days after her birth at St. Michael's Hospital, Bristol she underwent surgery to fit a shunt into her heart to help her blood circulation.
The operation on September 6 last year at Bristol Children's Hospital was a success and Emily was sent home with her mum Marie on September 18,
Gloucester Coroner's Court heard that on October 11 Emily caught a cold but was otherwise fine.
But two days later she took a turn for the worse and Marie had to give her life support as she waited for an ambulance which took her to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
Hospital doctor Lucy Plum said: "Emily had her last feed at 1.30am on October 13 and she was very unsettled and crying.
"Mum phoned 999 and started life supporting treatment herself.
"Paramedics arrived and found mum providing life supporting treatment to Emily."
The paramedics gave Emily CPR in the ambulance and arrived a hospital at 3.20am.
Gloucester Coroner Katy Skerrett continued to summarise Dr Plum's statement:
"Dr Plum says that they made strenuous efforts to revive Emily. They gave her seven doses of adrenaline.
"After 39 minutes of CPR the decision was made to stop resuscitation efforts. Emily's parents were present."
A post-mortem investigation found Emily's shunt had become blocked and bacteria had built up in her heart.
The pathologist noted that Emily was "well cared for, loved and well-nourished".
Coroner Skerrett said: "Emily was born with a hypoplastic heart and had surgery. She seemed to be recovering and was discharged.
"She caught a cold and had trouble breathing.
"Mum acted swiftly and called an ambulance. She was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital where she tragically died from natural causes."
Verdict: Death by natural causes.
