'Beautiful' boy, one, died after he was caught in blind cord

Kane Davidson was playing with his three-year-old brother, Calum Jr, in the back bedroom of the family's home on Breeze Hill Road at the time of the tragedy.

Mum Natasha Ogden left the room for a matter of moments and, on her return, Kane was nowhere to be seen.

She went into the front bedroom, where she discovered him caught in a blind cord.

Natasha called the children's dad, Calum Sr, who in turn alerted their neighbours.

The neighbours, who were student nurses, performed CPR on Kane until the arrival of the emergency services.

He was taken to Royal Oldham Hospital and then to Manchester Children's Hospital to be treated for brain damage.

But treatment was withdrawn on the advice of doctors and Kane died on February 1.

Kane with mum Natasha Ogden

Speaking at the end of an inquest at Rochdale Coroner's Court last week, Natasha said: "He was a beautiful boy.  

"You only had to look at him to melt at his cheeky smile."

During the inquest, assistant coroner Edward Morgan identified a number of problems in relation to the blind.

Mr Morgan learned from the landlord that it was not replaced before the family's arrival in 2020, despite the introduction of Blind Cord Safety Regulations in 2014.

He also heard from Samantha Cox, a member of Oldham Council's environmental health team, that the blind was not identified as a risk at an inspection at the time the landlord received a licence.

Ms Cox explained although the council was aware of the risk, the blind cord was not on the checklist for an inspection, which was based on a national Housing Health and Safety Rating System. She said the council is to add it to the checklist.

She added: "Since this tragedy, we've contacted all authorities in Greater Manchester and no one looks for this.

"Something needs to be done because it's not being addressed by anyone."

Kane with dad Calum Davidson

Mr Morgan agreed and committed to write to both Oldham Council and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities about these problems.

Recording a conclusion of accidental death, he said: "Other people will be made aware of the tragedy you've suffered and the risks their children might be exposed to as a result of the same problems.

"As a father of children myself, I offer you my condolences."

And after the inquest, Natasha issued a warning of her own.

Speaking to The Oldham Times, she said: "I need people to realise the blinds are dangerous. 

"I don't want any other families to go through this." 

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