A CORONER has described an incident in which a toddler drowned in his Flintshire grandparents’ pond as an “unspeakable tragedy”.
Nineteen-month-old Daniel Peralta was found in the pond at his grandparents’ house at Pitmans Lane, Hawarden on August 1.
An inquest heard how the tot fought for life for a week but died in the specialist child care unit at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool on August 10.
North east Wales coroner John Hughes, told the Wrexham hearing: “It’s so horrific. It’s the worst nightmare of any parent.
“I can only begin to imagine the anguish of the parents and those involved.”
Daniel’s parents, Laura and Jorge Peralta, had been visiting Laura’s parents, John and Elaine Hocking, in Hawarden, along with their four-year-old daughter, Ella.
The family lived in Witney, Oxfordshire and had just been on holiday to the Lake District with another couple, Emma and Kevin Worrell, and their two children.
On Saturday, August 1, there were about 11 adults and the four children gathered at the house.
That evening Daniel was outside in the garden with Mr and Mrs Worrall, their son and the family dog.
In a statement, Mrs Worrell said that between 6.30pm and 6.45pm she brought her son inside to put him to bed.
Her partner said in a statement: “At about 6.45pm, I was in the bedroom with Emma and the children.
“Laura asked where Daniel was. Laura ran downstairs and minutes later I heard her in hysterics.”
Mr Hocking told the inquest: “I went to the hallway and my daughter came out screaming that Daniel was in the pond.
“Jorge came from the garden carrying Daniel in his arms.
“One of the guests was a doctor and performed CPR and someone called an ambulance.”
A statement from Paul Baines, paediatric intensive care consultant at Alder Hey, said it was difficult to ventilate Daniel.
He also told the parents the youngster would have suffered a severe brain injury, the inquest heard.
Daniel’s breathing tube was removed on August 9 and he died at 4.25pm on August 10.
Mr Hughes recorded a verdict of accidental death and concluded it was due to a brain injury caused by drowning.
He said: “The little boy was clearly dearly loved and clearly wanted.
“It’s the very difficult state of affairs I have to look at when, in the bosom of his family at an occasion, he somehow slipped into the pond.
“That is an unspeakable tragedy.
“This little boy did not understand the nature of the water.
“I don’t know whether he slipped or fell but it doesn’t make a difference because the end result is the same.”
Mr Hughes added: “He was a loved youngster who everybody wanted to grow up to be a fine young man.
“It’s just the worst case scenario you can possibly imagine.”
After the hearing, Mr Hocking told the Leader: “He (Daniel) was much loved by us as his grandparents and we will miss him terribly.”