Our newborn baby died four years ago and we still don't know why

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: Our newborn baby died four years ago and we still don't know why4 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleKayley Thomas ,News ImpactandSimon Spark ,East Yorkshire & LincolnshireKianty and Conor SimpsonThis was the first time Jacob's parents were able to hold him at Singleton Hospital in SwanseaParents of a four-day-old baby who died following multiple failings during his birth four years ago say they are no closer to understanding what happened. Kianty and Conor Simpson, from Lincolnshire, have yet to scatter son Jacob's ashes as no inquest has been held into his death and they still do not have a death certificate for him. Jacob suffered a lack of oxygen to his brain during his birth at Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen, in June 2022 before his life support machine was turned off days later.

The coroner for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire has apologised to the family for the delay and said their son's case was now a "priority". "No-one can explain what the feeling is like of having to take a baby seat out of your car or to take the 'baby on board' sign off the back before driving home," said Conor. "The whole experience was extremely traumatic".

The Details

The couple were living in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, when Conor was posted to west Wales with the Army and Kianty fell pregnant. At the time, she set up a hidden camera and filmed herself handing him a box over dinner, telling him it was an early birthday present. Inside, there was a note telling Conor he would make a "great father" along with baby clothes and Kianty's positive pregnancy tests.

"I'd had a really bad day at work…and all of a sudden, all those worries just vanished. The only thing I was focused on was just being a dad," said Conor. Kianty and Conor SimpsonThe couple found out the were having a boy and held a baby shower with friends and familyOn 15 June 2022, Kianty was taken to Glangwili Hospital to be induced but her labour started spontaneously.

After initially progressing well, by the following afternoon labour had slowed. "For a first-time mum, I had no idea what it was meant to feel like and how long it was meant to take," she recalled. It was only when Jacob was finally born that Conor instantly recognised something was wrong as his son was "pale, bluish".

What Experts Say

"I just had an overwhelming sense of just panic because he looked dead and that was difficult," recalled Conor. "It's meant to be a happy moment. We were just watching him get resuscitated for 22 minutes and that was just awful.

"Kianty and Conor SimpsonKianty seeing her son for the first time after giving birth in the Special Care Baby Unit at Glangwili hospital, CarmarthenThe couple were told that Jacob was gravely ill, had suffered a catastrophic lack of oxygen to his brain and although he had been resuscitated, he might not survive. If he did, he might be severely disabled.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.