Coronial inquest into death of Baylen Shane Grassy Pendergast in 2013 Westdale, Tamworth, to resume in Sydney coroner's court

Baylen Pendergast died of severe brain damage after his life-support was turned off on November 30, 2013 in a Sydney hospital.

Coroner Derek Lee is examining the cause of, and nature of, the injuries to the 22-month-old, and how he suffered them; the treatment at Tamworth hospital; and whether there was a “failure to properly diagnose head injuries” after he presented on November 22, 2013. 

He will also examine whether clinical staff took appropriate measures including notification to authorities, as well as what caused Baylen to lose consciousness on November 28, two days before his death.

Over the three days, Baylen’s mother, a doctor who treated the little boy on his first visit to hospital as well as a specialist pathologist are just some of the witnesses expected to be called to give evidence.

The inquest was adjourned from Tamworth earlier this month and will resume at Glebe Coroner’s Court in Sydney on Wednesday morning.

An autopsy found Baylen suffered a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain, and had been in cardiac arrest, after he was found unconscious in his mother’s Gosse Street, Westdale home on November 28. 

The inquest has been told Baylen’s mother thought he might have fallen and hit his face on his racing car bed about 3am on November 17, 2013. She saw him sitting up in his bed, with vomit and blood on him.

His mother noted that her son, who usually wasn’t clumsy, had another two falls on November 21 – including one where he hit his head on his mother’s bedhead. 

The following night her concerns for his health heightened and she took him to Tamworth hospital.

Several witnesses including the officer-in-charge of the investigation, doctors, medical specialists and family members gave evidence at the hearing in Tamworth earlier this month.