Coroner's plea to parents '“ get rid of '˜silent killer' blinds

By The Newsroom
Published 23rd May 2016, 18:50 BST
Updated 2nd Jun 2016, 08:24 BST
Bryan Saba is thought to have became ensnared in the blind cords after climbing on to a setteeBryan Saba is thought to have became ensnared in the blind cords after climbing on to a settee
Bryan Saba is thought to have became ensnared in the blind cords after climbing on to a settee
A coroner has urged parents to scour their homes for potentially lethal blind cords, after the harrowing details of a boy's death were set out before his court.

Feliciano Saba, father of the tragic two-year-old, told an inquest that he and his wife are confronted with the anguish of their loss every day, and must rely on divine strength to help him through the pain.

Bryan Henriques Saba’s life support machine was turned off more than two weeks after the accident on September 11, 2015, when he choked himself on the drawstring of the window blinds in the living room of his home in Portadown.

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Pathologist James Lynas told the hearing that Bryan was the third child he knew of who had suffered such a fate in three years.

Feliciano Saba and his wife Maria on the way out of the inquestFeliciano Saba and his wife Maria on the way out of the inquest
Feliciano Saba and his wife Maria on the way out of the inquest

Feliciano Saba and his wife Maria Jose are originally from Guinea-Bissau in west Africa, and moved to Italy in 1994. They married in 2011.

Mr Saba (a civil planning and excavation engineer) moved to Northern Ireland in February 2015, followed by his family soon after.

At the time of the accident Mrs Saba (a hydro engineer who has also trained as a health care worker) was in Italy – where their son Bryan had been born.

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The Sabas set up home in a three-storey terrace in Goban Street, and on September 11 last year Mr Saba went off to work at food firm Moy Park.

Adam King was praised by the coroner and Bryan's family for his efforts to help save the youngsterAdam King was praised by the coroner and Bryan's family for his efforts to help save the youngster
Adam King was praised by the coroner and Bryan's family for his efforts to help save the youngster

Bryan was in the house with sister Edyneusa, 16, and half-brother Sindatche, 19.

There were no direct witnesses to precisely how the tragedy unfolded shortly after 2pm. It seemed the boy – about 2ft 11 inches tall – had climbed onto a settee before ensnaring himself in the cord.

Edyneusa was the first to find him, and frantic efforts began to raise help and resuscitate the boy.

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He was taken to Craigavon Area Hospital, then the Royal Victoria Hospital, but had suffered substantial brain damage. He died on September 26, and his family donated his liver, kidney and adrenal glands for transplant.

The blind cord which killed Bryan SabaThe blind cord which killed Bryan Saba
The blind cord which killed Bryan Saba

“Bryan had been a healthy child, with no previous illnesses,” Mr Saba said in a statement to the court.

“Since Bryan’s death we’ve been existing from one day to the next – surviving on the strength that God has given us, to sustain us and our children emotionally.

“Not a day passes without me suffering continuous anguish when I get up and go to work. At home, we do our best to make sure the other children don’t suffer, even though we’re suffering, and trying to lead a normal life without forgetting Bryan.

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