Boy's death was 'dreadful accident'

A baby who fell from a first floor window in Tipton died as a result of a "dreadful accident", a coroner said.

Cy Withers, who was 11 months old, died on March 24 at Birmingham Children's Hospital after falling onto concrete paving slabs two days earlier at his home in West Road.

The inquest heard that Cy, who was just learning to walk at the time, had been lying on a bed and was being looked after by his 13-year-old brother when the accident happened.

He was surrounded by cushions on the bed. His brother turned round to put a DVD on and the baby pulled himself up on the bed onto the adjacent window sill which it is thought he pushed against to steady himself before falling.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Robin Balmain at Smethwick Coroner's Court today said to Cy's mother Jane Withers, who has four other children: "This was a dreadful accident. You are quite clearly a responsible and loving family."