Finding into death of Lachlan McCann

2y · Male·Hypoxic Ischaemic Brain Injury in circumstances of Ligature strangulation (Blind Cord)

Lachlan McCann, a healthy 2-year-old, died from hypoxic ischaemic brain injury following ligature strangulation by a blind cord. While playing on a couch beneath a window, he became entangled in an unsecured Holland blind cord with an incomplete cord guide mechanism. His mother initiated CPR immediately upon discovery, but brain injury was non-survivable. This case highlights the critical importance of appropriate blind and curtain cord safety measures in homes with young children aged 18 months to 3 years, who are particularly vulnerable to strangulation injury. The coroner emphasised that parental vigilance alone is insufficient without proper product design, safety standards, and comprehensive public education campaigns. Regulatory changes and safety standards implemented after this death aim to prevent similar tragedies through secured cords, design specifications, and warning labels.