A mother has shared her profound grief after her four-year-old son died just days after swallowing two small fridge magnets, a coroner's court has heard.
A Rapid and Tragic Deterioration
Bohuslav Curi, a four-year-old from Fenton, Staffordshire, was described as a "usually fit and well young man" aside from some hearing and suspected developmental issues. His health declined rapidly in late August last year after he complained of a stomach upset.
Paediatrician Dr Matthew Harkess told the Stoke-on-Trent inquest that Bohuslav first fell ill on Wednesday, 20 August. His symptoms of vomiting and abdominal pain continued the next day. After seeming to improve on Friday and even attending a birthday party, he took a definitive turn for the worse on Sunday, 24 August.
"He was a lot more lethargic and his vomit became a green and black colour," Dr Harkess stated. "Green indicates bile while black indicates blood. That suggests a digestive problem."
Emergency Response and Cardiac Arrest
As the day progressed, Bohuslav's condition worsened dramatically. His mother, Katrim Brakova, described him as floppy and unable to stand. She called an ambulance, and he arrived at the Royal Stoke University Hospital's emergency department just before 1am on Monday, 25 August.
"Within a very short time of his arrival he started deteriorating rapidly," Dr Harkess explained. The child suffered a cardiac arrest at 1.06am. Despite extensive resuscitation attempts by a full medical team, who noted a distended abdomen and dark green vomit indicative of an obstruction, their efforts were unsuccessful. Resuscitation ceased at around 1.40am.
Cause of Death Revealed
Pathologist Professor Marta Cohen detailed the post-mortem findings. She discovered two pink, cylindrical magnets, each 1cm in size, which had connected through the bowel wall, causing a perforation.
"I believe the cause of death is small bowel perforation in relation to foreign bodies, specifically the magnets," Professor Cohen said. This led to acute peritonitis caused by bacteria, resulting in fatal sepsis.
Dr Harkess noted there was "a chance" a different outcome may have been possible if medical help had been sought earlier, suggesting the critical bowel perforation may have happened on the Sunday.
Parents' Heartbreaking Statements
Bohuslav's parents, who have since moved to Ireland and were not present at the hearing, provided written statements. His father, Borislav Curi, said he had brought the magnets home from work and put them on the fridge.
"It never occurred to me that he would eat them. He never put things in his mouth," Mr Curi said. "We never thought he'd eat something like that. It wasn't like him."
His mother, Katrim Brakova, expressed her devastation: "This is just a terrible situation and his death is tragic. I am very sorry that it happened. He was part of me and now he's gone forever."
The inquest has been adjourned for a final conclusion.
