A PREMATURE baby, who defied the odds during his short life and battled against various ailments, was found dead in his cot aged two, an inquest heard.
Jack Bishop was born eight weeks premature in October 2005 and was unable to feed or breathe properly for himself.
But his condition improved and he was allowed home to Riley Road, Wath with his parents, Beverley and Tom Bishop.
In December las
t year he was struck down with pneumonia, before pulling through again and being given the all clear in February this year.
But his tearful mum, Beverley, 35, told an inquest in Rotherham on Tuesday that Jack had recently developed a cough and was taking prescribed medicine for it.
She described how she put him to bed in his cot at about 7.20pm on Tuesday May 6 and checked on him a couple of times during the night.
In the morning, Jack was not yet awake when Mrs Bishop took one of her other children to school, but this was not unusual as he had slept in before, the inquest heard.
Mrs Bishop told the hearing that she returned from the school run and went to check on Jack but he did not stir when she shouted his name.
She said she approached the cot and Jack was laid face down, so she immediately turned him over.
The inquest heard that she frantically phoned the emergency services and paramedics arrived soon after, but Jack did not show any signs of life and he was pronounced dead.
A post mortem examination has been carried out on his body but further medical tests are due to take place.
Deputy Coroner for Rotherham Fred Curtis adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.
The full article contains 304 words and appears in South Yorkshire Times newspaper.
