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| County Down toddler dies in blind cord accident | County Down toddler dies in blind cord accident |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The family of a two-year-old boy are in mourning after he died in a freak accident in Mayobridge near Newry, County Down, on Saturday. | The family of a two-year-old boy are in mourning after he died in a freak accident in Mayobridge near Newry, County Down, on Saturday. |
| Daniel Grant, who was two-and-a-half years old, became entangled in a blind cord at his family home. | |
| Since 2010, there have been 13 deaths across the UK linked to blind cords. | Since 2010, there have been 13 deaths across the UK linked to blind cords. |
| South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said she had visited the family and offered her sympathy on behalf of the community. | South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said she had visited the family and offered her sympathy on behalf of the community. |
| "They are in an immense amount of grief," she said. | "They are in an immense amount of grief," she said. |
| "They have been met with a lot of support and solidarity at this difficult time. I must wanted to offer my heartfelt sympathy." | "They have been met with a lot of support and solidarity at this difficult time. I must wanted to offer my heartfelt sympathy." |
| Sinn Fein's Caitriona Ruane has offered her sympathy to the boy's family. | Sinn Fein's Caitriona Ruane has offered her sympathy to the boy's family. |
| The South Down MLA said: "This tragic accident has been felt by the entire community and I would like to extend my condolences to the family. | |
| "Our thoughts are with them at this time," she added. | "Our thoughts are with them at this time," she added. |
| SDLP representatives in south Down issued a joint statement, which said they were "deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death". | SDLP representatives in south Down issued a joint statement, which said they were "deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death". |
| "We also know that the local community in Mayobridge are also grieving for the family at this challenging and difficult time. | "We also know that the local community in Mayobridge are also grieving for the family at this challenging and difficult time. |
| "It is important that all of us stand shoulder to shoulder with the family of the little toddler to provide support and solidarity," they added. | "It is important that all of us stand shoulder to shoulder with the family of the little toddler to provide support and solidarity," they added. |
| As well a number of deaths linked to blind cords, there have also been many other instances of near misses where parents have managed to extricate children who became entangled. | As well a number of deaths linked to blind cords, there have also been many other instances of near misses where parents have managed to extricate children who became entangled. |
| Sheila Merrill, public health adviser for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said the group href="http://www.rospa.com/about/currentcampaigns/blindcords/" >had been campaigning for improved safety around cords on blinds. | |
| "We all have blinds in our homes now. They are much more readily available. This is one of the reasons why there is an increase in blinds deaths," she said. | "We all have blinds in our homes now. They are much more readily available. This is one of the reasons why there is an increase in blinds deaths," she said. |
| "Our advice is to fix your cord upon a cleat or safety device. The cleat is one of the easiest and most affordable - you wrap the cord around it in a figure of eight." | |
| Ms Merrill said it was important to put cords out of the way and, if buying a new blind, go for one that had no cords at all. | |
| "This is the safest way," she said. | "This is the safest way," she said. |