A mother and newborn baby have died after they were found 'unresponsive' in a Travelodge hotel room. An investigation has been launched.
Paramedics were seen administering CPR having brought the baby and mother down out of the hotel and into several ambulances which were parked outside, reports Leicestershire Live. "They were trying to save their lives as we all stood there powerless to help. It was absolutely gut-wrenching," a bystander, who asked not to be named, said.
The incident happened in the Leicester City Centre Travelodge, at the Haymarket Shopping Centre, shortly before 3pm on Thursday, March 24. Leicestershire Live reports they were taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary but, despite the efforts of paramedics and doctors, they were both pronounced dead soon after their arrival.
There are four entrances to the 67-bedroom hotel, which opened last year. Two are in Belgrave Gate and one is in Humberstone Gate. The hotel's main entrance, however, is through the shopping centre and its rooftop car park.
A shopper returning to his car after a trip into the city centre said he witnessed part of the tragedy unfold as medics fought to save the mother and baby - administering CPR to them on the rooftop car park. "It has to be the most heartbreaking thing I've ever seen," he said.
The man, who did not want to be named, said he was preparing to leave the car park when he heard sirens in the street below. "I was in the car park when suddenly there was a lot of commotion," he said. "There were paramedics running up the ramp of the multi-storey car park.
"I realised it was because the ambulances couldn't get to the rooftop and were still down in the street. More paramedics were coming out of the car park lifts.
"Soon afterwards, I saw several police cars and smaller ambulance vehicles arriving on the roof. I didn't want to get in anyone's way and there were quite a few other people just waiting there like me."
Paramedics used the shopping centre lifts to take the mother and child down to the waiting ambulances.
A spokeswoman for Leicestershire Police said: "Officers were called by East Midlands Ambulance Service shortly before 3pm yesterday afternoon (March 24) to a hotel in the Haymarket Shopping Centre, Leicester. The call was made following a newborn baby, who had just been delivered in a hotel room, and that the mother and child were unresponsive.
"Officers attended the scene and both were taken to hospital where sadly they were pronounced deceased shortly after arrival," she added. "The deaths are not being treated as suspicious, but unexplained, while further inquiries are being carried out."
The eyewitness who witnessed part of the frantic emergency revealed why he contacted LeicestershireLive. "I just wanted to let people know the incredible job the emergency services do," he said. "You hear about police and ambulance staff getting abuse from people when they're going about their jobs.
"Their dignity, determination, professionalism and care - even in the most terrible circumstances - really moved me. I have so much admiration for them.
"You don't really realise what they have to deal with, or have been dealing with, before they arrive at the next incident - so maybe it's time they get the respect they deserve."
Travelodge and the East Midlands Ambulance Service were contacted for comment.
