A BABY boy has died two days after he was found trapped under his dead mum on a hospital floor.
The body of Margaret Downey, in her 30s, was discovered on Monday morning at Cork University Maternity Hospital.
The baby, who was born over the weekend, was seriously hurt in the incident and has since died.
Tragically the child was still at his mother’s breast when the horrific discovery was made by hospital staff checking on patients.
It’s thought Ms Downey may have fallen out of the bed while feeding her son.
Family and friends in the close-knit rural community where the family lived are struggling to come to terms with the tragic loss of a mum and her newborn baby.
Ms Downey was a popular laboratory technician in Novartis.
One colleague said: “It’s so terribly sad. It’s really hard to believe that both Margaret and her baby have died.
“She was a lovely person and really was looking forward to having the baby.
“She was a great mother and I’m sure her husband Kevin and her children are absolutely devastated.”
The hospital confirmed an inquiry was underway after the “tragic occurrence.”
A postmortem exam was carried out yesterday on Ms Downey, survived by her partner Kevin and two young children.
And a postmortem examination of the baby boy is expected to take place today.
A hospital spokesperson said: “South South West Hospital Group wishes to confirm that an investigation is underway following a tragic occurrence at Cork University Maternity Hospital yesterday morning.
“Our priority is supporting the patient’s family and therefore we will not be commenting on the individual case at this time.”
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