A ‘beautiful’ little girl has died after choking on a sausage during lunch at a nursery.
Sadie Salt, 2, went into cardiac arrest at the Mini Learners nursery in Radlett, Hertfordshire, and was taken to St Mary’s Hospital where she spent two days in intensive care.
Medics battled to save her life but she sadly passed away on Saturday.
Family friends launched a petition calling for sausages and grapes to be banned from all nursery settings because of their ‘awkward shape and tough skin’, which they say make them ‘extra challenging for small children to chew’.
Children’s intensive care charity COSMIC set up a fundraising page on behalf of the family, paying tribute to ‘beautiful Sadie’.
‘Sadie spent two days in St Mary’s Hospital paediatric ICU where the care she, mummy and daddy received was incredible,’ the tribute read.
‘The team at the ICU are beyond amazing and the care for Sadie and the support for us was outstanding.
‘They do an amazing job and fully deserve all the support they can get. They took tremendous care of our Sadie and us and nothing was too much to make us all feel loved, cared for and supported.
‘We are in terrible pain as we suffer the untimely loss of our daughter and sister, but the huge support of love from you all has been overwhelming.’
The family also revealed they donated Sadie’s vital organs so she could ‘go on and save lives’.
They said they were ‘overwhelmed by all the love and support’ after nearly £40,000 was donated in Sadie’s memory.
The family also urged donators to sign the Change.org petition, which has been backed by almost 4,000 people so far.
The petition reads: ‘This is a petition we never thought we’d be writing.
‘Tragically on the 14th November 2020, Darren’s best friend’s daughter lost her life after choking on a piece of sausage whilst having her lunch at nursery.
‘She was just 2 years old. Our friends have lost their baby. Our baby has lost his friend. Two young boys have lost their little sister.
‘We are fully aware that accidents happen but things can also be put in place to prevent these accidents occurring.
‘Sausages are renowned for their awkward shape and tough skin, thus making it extra challenging for small children to chew. Grapes fall into the same category.
‘We are appealing to get sausages and grapes banned from all nursery settings ASAP so no other family has to go through the devastation and heartbreak that so many people have felt this weekend.’
A Mini Learners nursery spokesperson told the Borehamwood Times: ‘We are absolutely devastated by this news and our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to the family.’
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