PARK STREET: A baby girl, who died aged just eight weeks old, suffered from pneumonia, an inquest has heard.

Elizabethanne Doherty, of Watling Street, Park Street, died at Watford General Hospital on September 28 this year.

Prior to her death she was taken to the Urgent Care Centre in Welwyn Garden City, by her grandma, where she was diagnosed with a viral infection in her upper respiratory tract.

Herts Coroner Edward Thomas explained to Elizabethanne’s parents, Ben Smith and Bridget Doherty, that antibiotics would not have been prescribed as they are not used to treat viral infections.

The inquest heard how Elizabethanne was later rushed to hospital but despite resuscitation attempts, died shortly after arriving.

An initial post-mortem, carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospital by Professor Neil Sabire, proved inconclusive but further examinations revealed the eight week old had died as a result of a lower respiratory tract infection, a type of pneumonia.

Prof Sabire’s report went on to say that this was a common cause of sudden infant deaths.

Recording a verdict of death by natural causes, Mr Thomas told the family: “She lived in a caring and well-provided for home. Everything you did for her as a family was entirely appropriate; you did all the right things. I can’t imagine how awful this must be for you.”