THE tragic death of a much-loved seven-week-old baby lead to a coroner highlighting the dangers of co-sleeping.

Renesmee Janice McAleavy died on January 30, 2021. She had been rushed to hospital from her Whitehaven home after her mother woke to find her unresponsive.

Despite resuscitation attempts by her parents, paramedics and staff at the West Cumberland Hospital, she was declared deceased.

An inquest in Cockermouth on Thursday heard that Renesmee lived at Greenbank Avenue with her parents, Gareth and Rebecca, and six older siblings.

She weighed 9lb 5oz when she was born and had recently had a routine health check and been found to be 'very well and healthy'.

Her father, Mr McAleavy, who is self-employed, said: "When she was born I was there and could not wait to get her home.

"She was loved to bits in our house. She like to snuggle, she was always smiling and happy."

Rebecca would always sleep with Renesmee as she would not settle in the Moses basket, he said.

The couple had two friends round for drinks the evening before Renesmee died. The inquest heard they both took some cocaine.

A toxicology report found very low levels of cocaine in Renesmee's blood 'maybe due to passive exposure'.

Despite two post mortems, Renesmee's death remains unascertained. There was no evidence of natural disease to account for her death.

"Although she was sleeping in a non-safe sleeping environment, there is insufficient pathological evidence to attribute the death to overlaying or accidental suffocation," said Ms Taylor.

"Nor is it possible to attribute the death to the presence of cocaine found in Renesmee's body."

She recorded an open conclusion.

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"I'm afraid we are left with the situation where we are never going to be able to say definitively why Renesmee died.

"This tragedy is a lesson to everyone with a young child about the danger of co-sleeping, particularly when the parent is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"We need to take the advice given by professionals."

The coroner expressed her condolences to the family.

"This is a tragedy, Renesmee was a healthy child and obviously much loved by her parents and siblings.

"We heard that in the evening going into the morning of her death both parents had been taking alcohol and cocaine. They had gone to bed.

"At some time during the night Renesmee needed food and one of the siblings got up and gave her a bottle.

"Mother then took her back into bed with another sibling and cradled Renesmee. She then woke to the horror of finding her child unresponsive.

"I can only imagine how traumatic that was for the whole family."

An ambulance was called and arrived within minutes. Paramedics and hospital staff did everything they could to resuscitate Renesmee, who was in cardiac arrest.

"But this was futile and she died," said Ms Taylor.

"There's no suggestion that Renesmee was harmed in any way, there were no injuries to her body. She appeared to be a thriving child," said Ms Taylor.

"I know these circumstances will continue to traumatise the family. I hope they have the support around them."

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