Parents held for murder of their young son after paramedics 'failed to spot playground injury that killed him'

When two-year-old Lewis Urmson-Brown died just hours after falling in a playground, his parents were left devastated.

But Michelle Urmson and Chris Brown suffered a double agony when, a short time later, police wrongly accused them of killing their son.

They were arrested and led from their home in handcuffs before being locked in a cell.

The couple were released only after around 45 hours of questioning when officers determined their son's death had been a tragic accident.

Yesterday, the couple criticised paramedics who gave Lewis the all-clear without taking him to hospital. He died eight hours later after suffering a suspected fit in his sleep.

Mr Brown, 41, a security guard, said: 'Not only did our son die, but we were then accused of killing him and all because ambulance staff failed to do their job.

'If they had given him a decent examination, they would have realised he needed hospital treatment and he would still be alive.

'They did not examine him properly. It was a two-minute job and they were off. It was like it was all too much trouble and they could not wait to get away. It's an absolute outrage.

'Lewis should still be alive today, but instead he has gone and our lives are shattered.'

The accident happened at 7.30pm last Sunday as Lewis was playing in a small park close to his home, in Runcorn, Cheshire. After seeing him tumble off railings and bang his head, 39-year-old Miss Urmson dialled 999.

Paramedics examined Lewis but gave him the all-clear after deciding he did not need to go to hospital.

The couple, who also have a four-month-old son, put their children to bed as normal, but woke up in the early hours to find Lewis unconscious and frothing at the mouth.

He was taken to Warrington General Hospital, where he died a short time later. Police arrived at their home at 6.30am next day to arrest them.

Although Miss Urmson was released on police bail shortly before 8pm, Mr Brown was forced to spend a night in the cells and was finally let out without charge at around 2pm last Tuesday.

Miss Urmson's bail has since been cancelled.

Fighting back tears, Miss Urmson, who has two older sons from previous relationships, said: 'I'd only just learned I had lost my son, and the next minute I was being arrested on suspicion of killing him.

'I can't explain the horror of it. It was a living nightmare. My body went numb and I collapsed. To think I could hurt my precious boy makes me feel physically sick.'

Mr Brown said the couple are planning to sue the ambulance service for alleged negligence.

'Lewis was such a loveable boy who always had a cheeky smile on his face,' he added.

'He never had any health problems, this came completely out of the blue. We were certain he was hurt in the accident.

'The paramedics could have done tests at the hospital and his internal injuries would have shown up and he could have got treatment to save his life.

'We have such terrible mixed emotions of sorrow and anger, firstly at the way Lewis was left to die and then because we were accused of killing our beautiful son. It is criminal what they did.'

A spokesman for North West Ambulance Service said an investigation has been launched into this incident.

A Cheshire Police spokesman confirmed that no action is being taken against Miss Urmson or Mr Brown, and that a file has been passed to the coroner.