Canterbury toddler fatally hanged on blind cord: news from his devastated parents

His death was reported to coroner Heather McKenzie, who released her findings this morning.

Permanent blocking orders prevent the Herald to publish the boy's name or other details that could identify his family.

“[His] “The parents described him as their beautiful, cheeky and sweet little buddy,” said Coroner McKenzie.

“They are devastated and heartbroken to have lost him and are also suffering from the sight [their daughter] mourns her brother.

“They want to prevent the same thing from happening to other parents/families and believe there should be better safety advice on blind cords.”

Hours before the toddler died, he had been at the beach with his family.

They returned home for lunch and then his father put him to bed for his usual nap.

“The day was like any other day, nothing was different, and [the toddler’s] “His behavior was normal for him,” said coroner McKenzie.

“[His father] thinks he closed the blinds and curtains … and the bedroom door was closed. He heard [the toddler] As usual, he is “babbling to himself”.

“[His] Bed was pulled away from the wall and he was known to jump off the bed often. Sometimes, when [his father] “After looking at him, he was behind the curtain between the blinds.”

At around 4 p.m. the boy's father went to wake him up.

The boy was not in his bed and his father thought he was hiding behind the curtains.

“He found [the boy] in front of the curtain with a cord wrapped around his neck,” said Coroner McKenzie.

“He told police it wasn't wrapped around his whole neck or wrapped in loops. It was just the front of his neck.

“The cord was used to pull the blinds up and down. Normally [the boy’s mother] would remember [his father] to attach the blind and wrap it up around the railing.

“He didn’t think [the boy] had never played with the cord. Except for hiding behind the curtains, [the boy] no one was known to have jumped or played with them.”

Coroner McKenzie said there was nothing unusual in the boy's room.

His father explained that although the toddler sometimes “stacked his pillows to get to his drawers and books,” he did not do so that day.

“Based on the evidence available, it seems to me that [the boy] “As he was playing in or near the hiding place, the cord became wrapped around the front of his neck and he was unable to free himself,” said Coroner McKenzie.

“I don’t know how long he had been there before [his father] discovered him.

“Under all these circumstances, I think that [his] The death was a tragic accident.

“[He] was a much loved son and brother. He will be sorely missed.”

Following a sudden death, a coroner has the authority to make recommendations or comments to reduce the likelihood of further deaths under similar circumstances.

Following the death of a 19-month-old girl in 2018, coroner Mary-Anne Borrowdale spoke out at length, calling for strict and comprehensive regulations for the window covering industry.

At the time, she said five other New Zealand children had died in similar tragedies and much more needed to be done to save little lives.

Coroner McKenzie said she had nothing further to add given Coroner Borrowdale's “detailed research, comments and recommendations”.

Coroner Borrowdale said the dangers associated with blinds and curtains became apparent as young children became more mobile and curious about their surroundings.

Although they had the motor skills to reach blind cords, they lacked the cognitive ability to recognize the risk of strangulation – and the developmental maturity to free themselves if they became entangled in them.

“Strangulation incidents by blinds can be fatal within minutes and can happen silently. In this respect, they are similar to child drowning,” she said.

“Accessible blind cords should be considered as dangerous for small children as standing water.”

She said the public was aware of the dangers of cords “to some extent” but may not be aware of the dangers of internal cords.

There are currently no mandatory regulations or enforceable requirements for roller blind cords – including design specifications, safety advice and the supply or installation of interior window coverings with cords.

She noted that some major window covering suppliers are already “taking a responsible approach” and strongly recommending that their customers purchase safety devices when purchasing blinds or retrofit them to blinds already installed in areas where children may be present.

However, she wanted more to be done to improve safety and prevent harm and deaths.

“It is impossible to supervise children all the time and such incidents can happen quickly,” she said.

“Primary prevention through product and environmental modification is the most effective program.

“For this purpose, safety standards have been enacted or introduced in many countries to prevent accidental strangulation associated with interior cord window coverings in the home.”

There were no such measures in New Zealand, which coroner Borrowdale described as “regrettable”.

“Efforts to educate the New Zealand public about how to mitigate the dangers of blind cords have so far focused on placing clips or cord holders out of the reach of children and ensuring beds and other furniture are not placed near blinds with cords,” she said.

“While these efforts are commendable, they are not enough on their own to protect young New Zealanders from the risks of corded shutters.”

Coroner Borrowdale recommended:

Coroner McKenzie said there was also a wealth of publicly available safety advice on the internet, including on product safety.

“Other websites provide education and safety information, for example: Starship, The Sleep Store, Tenancy Services and MBIE,” she said.

“In March 2022, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research published its paper “Corded blind safety: Keeping 1- to 4-year-old children safe.”

Coroner McKenzie expressed her sincere condolences to the boy's family on their loss.

His parents told her that they were “just surviving day by day.”

“It's too painful and hurtful… it's taken a psychological toll on all of us.”

SAFETY TIPS – Protect your little ones at home

Blinds and shades with cords and window coverings with cords – including roller blinds, Roman blinds, pull-cord shades and curtains – pose a serious danger to young children.

Between 2009 and 2024, seven young children died in New Zealand after being strangled with a blind cord.

The safest window coverings in homes with small children do not have exposed pull cords or interior cords – nor cords on the back of the fabric (like Roman blinds), which can be just as deadly.

Accidental strangulation can happen very quickly, and no one can keep an eye on a child the whole time. In less time than it takes to boil a kettle, a small child can become tangled in a loose cord and lose consciousness.

Consider window coverings throughout the house, not just in children's rooms – anywhere where children might climb on furniture or get to windows.

Anna Leask is a Christchurch-based reporter covering national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 18 years, with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicide, mental health and youth crime. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, broadcast monthly on nzherald.co.nz