Mystery as very healthy boy, 11, dies suddenly in bed after 'shaking'

A "remarkable" 11-year-old boy passed away suddenly in bed but his devastated parents may never know exactly what led to his death, an has heard. Mario Mc Donnell suffered two "shaking episodes" in January 2023, after which his dad took him to a .

However, all tests came back normal, with the doctor giving the family "safety netting advice" and telling them to go to the hospital if they suspected he was having a . The inquest heard that the young boy was due to have a school uniform fitting but felt "slightly light headed" the day before his death, even though he managed to watch a film with his mum at night and seemed to be well by the time he went to bed. However, the following morning, on August 1, 2023, his mother found him unresponsive in bed.

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She began CPR with paramedics taking over when they arrived at his home, but he was declared dead at the scene, the reports. A police investigation, which is routine following the death of a child, found there were no suspicious circumstances.

A post-mortem was also unable to find a definitive medical cause of death. There was no evidence of asphyxia and he had no substances in his system, the hearing at North Coroner's Court in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was told, and family genetic testing also revealed no abnormalities.

Mario was described as "quite a remarkable young man" who enjoyed swimming, running and playing the guitar. He was a "much loved and well-cared for child" who was "making great progress at school" and was "very healthy", it was said.

Home Office pathologist Dr Philip Lumb said he enlisted the help of heart and brain experts as part of his enquiries into Mario's death. However, he said the lack of evidence meant he had to give the cause of the "sudden, unexpected death" as "unascertained." He said: "It's not an uncommon situation, unfortunately, in this age group."

Dr Lumb said there was "most likely a problem somewhere in his brain or somewhere in his heart" that could not be picked up by pathology.

Mario's parents Elizabeth Monis and Fergal Mc Donnell attended the hearing, during which his dad asked the pathologist if he believed the "shaking episodes" could have been linked to his death.

The doctor said: "I know children can have shaking episodes when they wake and go to sleep, and it's usually a benign phenomenon and quite common. I don't think we can exclude that they were related to (his) death but there may well have been a benign explanation."

Area Coroner Catherine McKenna said: "It's very clear to me from all the evidence I have read that this was a very sudden death that could not have been anticipated. Mario was a very healthy young boy who was well-loved by his family, friends and school. There was absolutely nothing that could have anticipated this.

"Whilst Dr Lumb has not been able to give a medical cause of death, I am satisfied it was a natural cause of death, and it happened very suddenly." She said the "most likely causes" were an undiagnosed heart issue or epilepsy. "That's not something that is obvious, very sadly, until after death," she said.

Ms McKenna recorded a narrative conclusion that he "died of a natural but unknown cause of death" which was "likely associated with a cardiac induction disorder or idiopathic epilepsy."