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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
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Ruby Davies & Olivia Williams

Boy, 5, dies after being found in bath by nan

A five year old schoolboy drowned in the bath after is it believed he suffered a seizure, an inquest heard.

Jayden-Jay Silvester, who was lovingly known as JJ, died in hospital on New Year's Eve after it is believed he suffered a seizure in the water before he was discovered unresponsive at his home in Waterside Drive, Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent.

Mum Lisa Johnson desperately tried to resuscitate Jayden-Jay, along with the work of paramedics and NHS staff, but the little boy died in hospital that day, reports StokeonTrentLive.

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Mum Lisa, who lived in Liverpool city centre before moving to Stoke-on-Trent, previously paid tribute to her five-year-old son who she said will be "missed and forever in everybody's thoughts" and also made people "smile everyday".

The tragedy came just 34 days after his dad Jason Silvester died on November 27.

The inquest heard that in a statement, Jayden-Jay's grief-stricken mum Lisa explained she had taken her son and his younger brother Oscar out shopping for balloons on December 31 ahead of Oscar's birthday on New Year's Day.

They were planning on going to the park in the afternoon.

Lisa said: "Jayden-Jay got on the sofa and didn't want to go to the park because he felt unwell.

"His cheeks were red raw and so hot. Twenty minutes later my mum-in-law and sister-in-law came.

"I asked them to look after the children while I wrapped presents.

"Jayden-Jay came upstairs and asked if he could have a bath and he grabbed his head in pain.

"I went to the bathroom, turned on both taps and put some body wash into it. The bath was half full. I put him in the bath myself.

"I made sure he was okay. At this point he was sat in the bath and I asked my sister-in-law to get some Calpol and put it in Coke as Jayden-Jay wouldn't have it otherwise.

"He only took a sip and I was surprised because he's not usually allowed Coke and I thought he would drink more.

"I went into the bedroom and continued wrapping presents.

"Between five and 10 minutes later I shouted Jayden-Jay to ask if he was OK and he said he was.

"I only had one present left to wrap but I'd run out of paper. His grandmother came up to bring the wrapping paper and I asked her to check on Jayden-Jay.

"I heard her scream and I ran into the bathroom, she pulled him from the bath and I started CPR and chest compressions."

Jayden-Jay Silvester, who was lovingly known as JJ, sadly died in hospital on December 31 (Family handout)

After calling 999, an operator talked Lisa through CPR until paramedics arrived and Jayden-Jay was taken to hospital where he was confirmed dead at 5.20pm.

The inquest heard Newstead Primary Academy pupil Jayden-Jay had been born at just 24-weeks-old and spent 101 days on a neonatal unit. He remained on oxygen for 18 months and had a history of seizures.

In her statement, Lisa praised his school.

She said: "The teachers were extremely supportive, they had a good relationship and offered him one to one support.

"He was really coming on with his work and they allowed him to work in his own way and really encouraged him.

"He always did his best and went beyond expectations."

A post-mortem was carried out on Jayden-Jay which provided a medical cause of death as drowning secondary to seizure.

A police report read out at the inquest stated that there was no water around the bath suggesting there hadn't been a struggle. It added that Jayden-Jay had the ability to get out of the bath if he wished to.

Concluding the death was due to natural causes, area coroner for Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire Emma Serrano, said: "On the balance of probabilities he had a seizure whilst in the bath and that caused him to go under the water and pass away.

"He had a history of seizures when he was younger and had a temperature.

"Sadly because he had a seizure whilst in the bath, he went in the water and he drowned."

In her previous statement to StokeonTrentLive, Lisa said: "Jayden-Jay (JJ) passed away on December 31. He was a very loving brother to Oscar, a loving son to Lisa, and a loving son to Jason who sadly passed away on November 27.

"JJ attended Newstead Primary Academy and they were his second family who love and miss him along with his school friends who JJ made smile everyday. JJ will be sadly missed and forever in everybody's thoughts."

Friends and family have also been rallying around Lisa and launched a fundraising appeal and night.

Best friend Cheryl-Marie Tomlinson, from Speke and who lived with Lisa in the city centre for several years, was one of the people rallying around the mum-of-two.

She said: "We can never bring JJ back and never relieve Lisa's emotional burden but we can all pitch in to try to relieve the financial one to show our support and give Lisa something positive. All donations will go to JJ's memory as well as his little brother Oscar.

"I know Lisa is overwhelmed by the messages and support."

To donate to the GoFundMe, please click here.

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