An inquest in Belfast determined that a one-year-old girl from Cookstown died after becoming entangled in a gym bag cord. Emily Hazel Violet Whinnery, born in November 2023, passed away on March 9, 2024.

The toddler shared a room with her brother. Items hung from a bunk bed post near her cot. She reached for the gym bag cord that morning while playing.

Her mother, Stacey Whinnery, checked on her several times overnight and at 8am. Emily remained asleep, which was typical for her. At around 11am, Ms Whinnery found her face down in the cot with the cord around her neck.

Emily showed no response. Her lips appeared blue and skin grey. Ms Whinnery called an ambulance and performed CPR as instructed until paramedics arrived.

Paramedics provided advanced life support at the scene. Emily was declared dead at 12.20pm. State Pathologist Dr Marjorie Turner identified ligature compression of the neck as the cause.

Dr Turner noted the cord pressed on the jugular veins, leaving a thin mark. She stated minimal pressure sufficed to cause unconsciousness in a young child.

Coroner Ann-Louise Toal explained Emily woke that morning, reached the cord, played with it, and it wrapped around her neck. The incident led to rapid unconsciousness and death. Toal stressed preventing access to cords and drawstrings in homes.