Our baby lucky to be alive

Eighteen-month-old Harry Lucks, who was left distressed after being almost strangled by a thread from his comfort blanket (right), which left a red mark around his neck A FATHER whose baby son was almost strangled by his comfort blanket is urging other parents to be on their guard.

Eighteen-month-old Harry Lucks was left with a visible red mark around his neck after a cotton thread from his Blue Mouse Snuggz comfort blanket somehow got wrapped around his neck while he was asleep in his bed.

Dad Gerrord Lucks and his partner Faye Milner rushed upstairs when they heard Harry screaming through the baby monitor.

Gerrord said: “We went into the bedroom and Harry was on his knees screaming. I picked him up and the comforter came with him.

“I pulled at it and heard the cotton snap. We ran downstairs with him and he was drip white and shaking. We saw the cotton around his neck. I managed to get my fingers between the cotton and his neck and snapped the thread, which was wrapped around his neck three or four times.”

The concerned couple phoned NHS Direct for advice and were told to take Harry to their GP as soon as possible to be checked over. “The doctor reassured us that Harry was okay,” said Gerrord. “Thank God Harry woke up when he did.”

The couple had bought the comfort blanket at Home Bargains in Crossgates, Leeds. Gerrord said he contacted the store following the incident, which happened last Wednesday (October 4). “They asked us to send it to them and they would investigate,” added Gerrord.

Gerrord said Harry had a previous Blue Mouse blanket and there had been no problems with it. “He had one from birth and it has been fine,” he said. “Two of Faye’s friends have identical ones.”

Gerrord, 46, who works as a bus driver for Leeds City Council, said it had been difficult to make Harry give up his beloved blanket. “He still goes to bed with it, but we take it away as soon as he’s gone to sleep. But this incident has affected us all. We’re always anxious when we go into his room first thing in the morning.”

Faye, 28, who works as a care assistant, also has a daughter, Chelsea, who is aged nine. The family live in Mixenden, Halifax.

A spokesperson for Home Bargains said: “We are fully aware of the incident and are conducting an investigation with our supplier. As a precaution, we have withdrawn the product from sale until our investigation has been completed.”