GWENT’S coroner said yesterday he hoped the death of a Newport toddler strangled by a window blind cord would serve as a warning to all parents.

The inquest into the death of 22-month-old Joshua Wakeham was held in Newport where Gwent coroner David Bowen recorded a verdict of accidental death.

But following the verdict he stated: “It is not reasonable to expect parents to monitor children 24/7 but I hope this serves as a warning to all parents.

“All potential hazards should be put out of reach.”

Joshua’s mother, Tracey Ford, was too devastated to attend the hearing but spoke to the Argus afterwards.

She said: “I am satisfied with the verdict. The more warnings that go out, the better.”

The court heard a statement from Ms Ford in which she told how she had put Joshua to bed at their home in Jackson Place around 6pm on January 24. Joshua’s bed was next to a window which had a blackout blind which was kept permanently down and had a beaded looped cord.

Ms Ford, who has since moved house, said: “Joshua enjoyed looking out of the window and waving.”

Ms Ford’s partner, Tim Llewellin, then came to the house around 6.15pm and left at 9.15pm when Ms Ford went to check on Joshua.

She said: “I could see Joshua was standing up. It looked like he was looking out of the window. But then I saw the cord from the blind was around his neck.”

Ms Ford told how she removed the cord and took Joshua to her bedroom.

She said: “He felt very cold and his tummy felt bloated.”

She rang 999 while trying to resuscitate him.

She said: “I tried and I tried but he was just so cold.”

Joshua was taken to Newport’s Royal Gwent hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Apost-mortem examination found Joshua died as a result of pressure to the neck consistent with being caused by entrapment with a curtain or blind cord.

Mr Bowen said he was satisfied that Joshua, who would have been two today, was already dead when Ms Ford found him.

He said: “Joshua was a normal, healthy, active, inquisitive child.

He added: “He would never have recognised the dangers of the cord.

“He would have been much too young to have released himself when he became trapped. He would have rapidly lost consciousness.”

Newport West MP Paul Flynn said he had asked business secretary Vince Cable further questions in the House of Commons about a government awareness campaign on the dangers of blind cords.

The Argus reported yesterday how Mr Flynn had brought an Early Day Motion to the House of Commons calling for the dangers of blinds to be publicised.