Child dies of accidental strangulation while playing with belt

A six-year- old child died of accidental strangulation when a belt she was playing with got fastened around her neck, a coroner’s court was told this week.

The child had been left in the room alone while the mother was taking a bath in their home in Colombo 14. The court was told the child was playing with her brother's belt. The girl was later found unconscious with the belt around her neck.

She was rushed to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Malintha Silva who conducted the post-mortem examination certified that the death occurred following damage to the respiratory system.

Coroner Deshani Samarawera ruled that the death was due to accidental strangulation.