HOSPITAL bosses have launched an investigation into the death of a baby boy who died while staff were trying to deliver him on Christmas Day.

Baby Damon Yates, whose mother lives in Lynwood Avenue, Darwen, died at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, at 2.34am.

An inquest has been opened to find out how he died but it was told that initial findings seemed to indicate he suffocated before staff were able to deliver him.

During a short hearing at the office of Coroner Michael Singleton, in Richmond Terrace, Blackburn, details were given about the complications, which included Damon's shoulder becoming stuck during the birth.

In an official statement about the incident Lynn Wissett, divisional director of Women and Child Health, for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "I would like to express my deep sympathy to Damon's family for their tragic loss.

"The case is now subject to a coroner's inquest to establish the cause of death and we will be assisting the coroner with his inquiries.

"The Trust will also be following its internal procedures for investigating cases of this nature."

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Queen's Park Hospital, declined to comment on whether any member of staff had been suspended in relation to the death of baby Damon.

The inquest was opened and adjourned for further tests to be carried out to try and discover the cause of death.

A full hearing will be held at Blackburn Registry Office on April 28.

The baby's mother, who was at the family home yesterday, said she was too upset to comment on what had happened but added: "I don't know why the hospital has launched an investigation into this.

"There's nothing they can do to prevent it now, it's already happened."