The child’s parents, from Finland, have reportedly been arrested on charges of manslaughter after the youngster was found dead on the Greek island of Crete
A two-month-old baby boy has died in heartbreaking circumstances while on holiday with his parents in Crete.
Greek police are now investigating claims he was accidentally smothered by his parents as he slept between them. The child, from Finland, was discovered lifeless in a hotel room in the seaside village of Kalyves, near Chania, earlier this week.
Authorities were alerted just after 11am when a call was made to the Chania Public Health Authority reporting the death of a tourist baby in a rented room. Emergency services, including officers from the Chania Police Department, paramedics and a forensic doctor rushed to the scene.
However, it was too late and baby was sadly discovered dead on the bed. The quiet fishing village, nestled on Crete’s northern coast, is home to just 1,500 residents and popular with holidaymakers thanks to its narrow streets, sandy beaches and nearby rivers.
Preliminary findings by a local coroner has suggested that the cause of death could be asphyxiation.
One possibility being examined is that the parents “smothered” their child as they were sleeping, according to the Greek edition of CNN.
However, the coroner’s report is not yet final and an autopsy is due to confirm how the baby died.
The Finnish parents, in their mid to late 20s and distraught at what had happened, were arrested at the scene and taken in for questioning by the police but later released.
Both underwent toxicology tests and are expected to appear before a prosecutor pending trial. Greek police confirmed the parents are facing charges of manslaughter by negligence as the current evidence has not shown any intent, reports another Greek outlet.
It is understood that couple had attended a wedding and returned to their hotel room after it had finished. They then reportedly placed the baby in the middle of the bed.
Officials are now working to try and establish the full circumstances behind the devastating incident. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland is aware of the tragic case and a spokesperson confirmed to Finnish news outlets that the ministry is keeping an eye on any developments.
The infant is believed to have been born in Finland in late July and local authorities have not publicly named the child or parents, in accordance with strict privacy laws.
The parents’ toxicology results – along with the full autopsy findings – are expected to be key in deciding whether the case moves forward to trial.
The outcome could hinge on whether authorities believe adequate care was taken in the baby’s sleeping arrangements, and whether alcohol or other substances may have contributed.
So far, there has been no formal comment from either Finnish or Greek officials beyond confirmation of the ongoing investigation.