Six-month-old boy declared dead after found unconscious in cot at Ma On Shan home, cause of death unknown
- Child was found with head covered by a blanket when mother woke
- Police source said the child had recently been ill
A six-month-old Hong Kong boy was declared dead in hospital after his mother found him unconscious in a cot with his head covered by a blanket when she woke on Friday.
Emergency personnel arrived at the Mountain Shore flat on Yuk Tai Street in Ma On Shan just after 6.30am when police were alerted by the mother.
“She told police that the baby’s face was found covered with a blanket and unconscious in a cot,” a police source said.
The child was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin where he was certified dead. The source said the baby had recently been ill.
An initial investigation found nothing suspicious, a police spokesman said. He added that a postmortem examination would be conducted to determine the cause of death.
The Department of Health website urged caution when putting a child to bed: “when blanketing a baby, leave his arms uncovered. A baby’s face and head are important for breathing and cooling”.
