Infant Chokes to Death on Litchi Seed

A tragic accident occurred in the Chakaria Upazila of Cox’s Bazar, where a 10-month-old infant died after a litchi seed became lodged in her throat. The incident took place on Monday at approximately 2:30 pm in the Paschim Para area of the Bamubilchhari Union within the upazila. The deceased child, identified as Wasenat, was the daughter of Abu Noman Osmani, a local veterinary physician.

Incident Overview and Family Account

According to family members, the incident transpired following the Zuhr prayers on Monday. Abu Noman Osmani was feeding litchis to his infant daughter inside their residence. After feeding her one litchi, he inadvertently left the seed beside the child and went out to the courtyard to feed his pigeons.

Upon returning to the room approximately five minutes later, Mr Osmani discovered that the infant had placed the remaining litchi seed into her mouth, and it had subsequently become stuck in her throat, obstructing her airway. The father stated:

“I left Wasenat inside the room and went outside for five minutes to feed the pigeons. During that brief period, she put the litchi seed left beside her into her mouth. It then became lodged in her throat.”

Family members immediately attempted to extract the seed from the child’s throat. When their initial efforts failed and her condition deteriorated, they rushed her towards the Lama Upazila Health Complex. During the journey to the medical facility, the infant vomited at one stage and lost consciousness.

Medical Findings and Funeral Arrangements

Upon arrival at the Lama Upazila Health Complex, the duty doctor examined the infant and pronounced her dead. Dr Golam Mostafa Nadim, the Lama Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, confirmed that the child had passed away prior to reaching the hospital premises. Medical examinations conducted at the hospital verified that she was brought in dead.

The details of the incident have been structured into the reference table below:

Following the completion of the medical formalities, the body was handed over to the family. Abu Noman Osmani stated that the funeral prayers (Janaza) for his daughter would be held at 9:00 pm on Monday at the Bamubilchhari Union Parishad ground.

Medical Advisory on Seasonal Fruits

As the regional litchi harvesting season is currently underway, health authorities have urged parents and guardians to exercise extreme caution. Dr Golam Mostafa Nadim highlighted that during the fruit season, incidents of choking on seeds become a notable hazard for toddlers and infants.

Medical experts advise that young children should never be left unsupervised with small objects or fruits containing seeds, as their airways are narrow and highly susceptible to sudden blockage, which can lead to fatal asphyxiation within minutes if proper intervention is delayed.