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| Boy dies after becoming trapped between two stairgates, report finds | Boy dies after becoming trapped between two stairgates, report finds |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A four-year-old boy became trapped between two stairgates and died days after a health visitor reported "filthy conditions" and "squalor" at his home. | A four-year-old boy became trapped between two stairgates and died days after a health visitor reported "filthy conditions" and "squalor" at his home. |
| A serious case review found the boy, known as AH, died in April 2019 following a cardiac arrest three weeks after the accident at his Norfolk home. | A serious case review found the boy, known as AH, died in April 2019 following a cardiac arrest three weeks after the accident at his Norfolk home. |
| There was often no food in the house and children were left in soiled nappies, the report said. | There was often no food in the house and children were left in soiled nappies, the report said. |
| Agencies involved are to re-examine how they assess neglect. | Agencies involved are to re-examine how they assess neglect. |
| The review by the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) found a number of "concerns about neglect" were known by agencies during Child AH and their siblings' lives. | The review by the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) found a number of "concerns about neglect" were known by agencies during Child AH and their siblings' lives. |
| Despite this, it was decided the family did not meet the threshold for a social work assessment. | Despite this, it was decided the family did not meet the threshold for a social work assessment. |
| 'Filthy home and garden' | 'Filthy home and garden' |
| The accident, on April 3, took place while AH and three of his four siblings were at home, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. | The accident, on April 3, took place while AH and three of his four siblings were at home, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. |
| Police who responded to a 999 call said the house was in "absolute squalor". | |
| The report said: "Child AH was found trapped in the gap between the original stairgate and one added to prevent the children climbing over the lower one." | The report said: "Child AH was found trapped in the gap between the original stairgate and one added to prevent the children climbing over the lower one." |
| In March, the family was referred for family support services by a health visitor, who noted "the filthy condition of the home and garden, the safety of the children, and the risks presented by the stairgate". | In March, the family was referred for family support services by a health visitor, who noted "the filthy condition of the home and garden, the safety of the children, and the risks presented by the stairgate". |
| However, they were "happy, lively and resilient" with a "warm relationship with their mother who clearly loved them", the report added. | However, they were "happy, lively and resilient" with a "warm relationship with their mother who clearly loved them", the report added. |
| Professionals felt AH's mother was "overwhelmed by demands of a big family, a low income and no friends or family support". | Professionals felt AH's mother was "overwhelmed by demands of a big family, a low income and no friends or family support". |
| AH's siblings have now gone into foster care or are being looked after by the council. | AH's siblings have now gone into foster care or are being looked after by the council. |
| Chris Robson, NSCP chairman, said: "This was a tragic accident. AH's mother was seeking to protect him by installing these gates." | Chris Robson, NSCP chairman, said: "This was a tragic accident. AH's mother was seeking to protect him by installing these gates." |
| The review made six recommendations on how agencies could improve assessments of need for support. | The review made six recommendations on how agencies could improve assessments of need for support. |
| Mr Robson said "more could have been done" in this case. | Mr Robson said "more could have been done" in this case. |
| He added: "Used in the right circumstances, there is no doubt that stairgates save lives." | He added: "Used in the right circumstances, there is no doubt that stairgates save lives." |
| Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |