Five-week-old baby died while sleeping in his parents' bed in North Yorkshire

Phoenix Benson passed away in November 2019 after being breastfed by his mother Sarah Benson at her home in Northallerton.

Phoenix regularly co-slept with Sarah and her husband Luke, and on the night of his death she had woken to feed him shortly after 1am, before falling asleep again.

When Sarah woke around two hours later, Phoenix was lying on the bed and did not appear to be breathing.

The baby was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, but despite resuscitation attempts, he was pronounced dead at 4.35am.

An inquest held today (September 3) at County Hall in Northallerton found that although there were no obvious factors that could have contributed to his death, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome had to be ruled out as a cause because of the history of co-sleeping.

A postmortem found that Phoenix was of normal size and weight for his age, and there was no evidence of choking, infection, genetic defects or injury. Although he had had trouble feeding and had been taken to see the family GP about digestion issues, there was nothing in his medical history that raised concerns prior to his death.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome was deemed not to be applicable by the pathologist who conducted the autopsy because co-sleeping with parents is considered a risk factor in infant deaths.

A police sergeant who attended the family's semi-detached home on the morning of Phoenix's death gave a statement in which he said the baby's mother was heard to say 'they said it would be OK to have him in the bed' while paramedics treated her son upstairs.

A CID investigation also identified no suspicious circumstances, injuries or concerns. The house was in good condition and described as a 'typical family home'.

Detective Sergeant Chris Parker-Beagrie said that the family went to bed together at around 11pm the previous night, with Phoenix being fed before they went to sleep. He woke again in the early hours for another feed before Sarah woke a second time and discovered the baby cold and with blood around his nostrils. DS Parker-Beagrie said the Bensons had a 'routine' of co-sleeping with Phoenix. He confirmed that there was no evidence of asphyxiation.

In a statement read by the coroner, Sarah Benson said that her son had seemed 'normal' on the day before he died, although he had slept for longer than usual while she shopped and had lunch with a friend in Northallerton. He also seemed hungry, and as well as being breastfed finished a bottle of milk given to him by his father in the evening.

"The three of us went to bed together," she said. "He was feeding and dozing on and off. I thought his tongue seemed harder than normal. I fell asleep after I had given him to Luke. I woke up again and he was making a grunting noise which I told myself to see the doctor about. I rubbed his back and he passed wind. I put him on the breast at about 1.20am.

"I woke up again later, and although I am still trying to remember clearly what happened, I know I wasn't on top of him. He was in front of me on the bed rather than in his cot. I touched his skin and something felt wrong. I shone the light of my watch on him. His head was cold and that wasn't normal. There was no response from him and I could see blood on his nose. His eyes were closed, and when I put my hand on his chest I couldn't feel him breathing. I called 999 and Luke did CPR, as we had both attended an infant first aid course.

"I was emotionally paralysed. There was a voice inside me telling me it was too late."

Recording a verdict of death by natural but unknown causes, North Yorkshire coroner Robert Turnbull said: "It is clear to me that Phoenix was a very much loved and wanted baby who was well cared for. You both did all the right things. I am satisfied that co-sleeping was not the cause of his death, but it cannot be excluded entirely.

"Sadly this is one of those tragic circumstances in which someone is taken far too early with no identifiable cause. You are in no way responsible or to blame."

The Bensons have raised over £8,000 for the South Tees Hospitals Charity in gratitude for the care they received in the James Cook neonatal unit after Phoenix was born at 37 weeks in October 2019. Sarah also developed sepsis after a difficult delivery and a postpartum haemorrhage.

The keen runner plans to run the London Marathon 2021 in memory of Phoenix.

On their Justgiving page, Luke and Sarah said:

"Throughout this time we received exemplary care from all at South Tees NHS Trust; everybody went above and beyond to look after our beautiful boy and us, they supported us going home and at home they continued to care for us and do everything they could to help us recover and give Phoenix the start to life he deserved.

"On the night he passed we were by his side as the doctors, midwives and nurses fought with everything they had to save our beautiful boy, again they went above and beyond for him and us, and when they could do no more the compassion and love they showed us I don't even have words for. Their hearts broke alongside ours - those wonderful people dressed, cleaned and helped us hold our boy, and held us together when our world fell apart."

To donate to the family's Justgiving campaign, click here.