Parents of nine-month-old baby who died after choking at nursery nearly suffered a horrific repeat tragedy with their second son

The parents of a nine-month-old baby who died after choking at nursery narrowly avoided losing their second son in a second tragedy, it emerged last night.

Lewis and Zoe Steeper's baby Oliver died six days after he choked at Jelly Beans Day Nursery in Ashford, Kent, in September 2021.

He was given food and began to struggle to breathe - and devastatingly died six days later of a heart attack at the Evelina London Children's Hospital.

His parents almost faced a similar tragedy with their son Jake, but managed to avoid heartbreak for the second time by using a device to save him.

Lewis used a LifeVac gadget, an airway clearing device which the pair have distributed over 100 of to nurseries since Oliver's death.

Jake stopped breathing in December 2023 after he woke up with a fever. His father, 39, used one of the devices to clear the 14-month-old's throat.

Medics said that Jake had Covid and has made a full recovery, The Sun reported.

Lewis told the newspaper: 'It's the worst thing I've ever seen in my life, I just kept saying "I can't lose another child".'

He and Zoe, 34, set up the Oliver Steeper Foundation after his passing and have raised almost £19,000 to buy LifeVacs to give to nurseries.

Lewis told The Sun that their mission is 'even more personal' after he used the device to save Jake, adding 'we want to save as many lives as possible'. 

The couple have been told that the CPS has decided not to bring charges and Kent Police have also shelved their investigation into Oliver's death.

His parents announced the decision on the Oliver Steeper Foundation website but have vowed to fight to overturn the decision.

The statement said: 'Whilst the initial investigation concluded that the nursery's policies and procedures were 'of poor quality and inconsistent' no accountability for our son's tragic and avoidable death will prevail at this moment in time.

'We are hugely disappointed and shocked at the initial decision, but we are far from deterred.

'We have now instructed specialist solicitors Leigh Day, who have lodged our appeal with the Crown Prosecution Service.

'We will leave no stone unturned as we feel that many key aspects of what happened on that day have been missed or ignored by the CPS.'

Following Oliver's death, the nursery permanently closed following the tragedy.

The closure came after childcare inspectors Ofsted suspended its registration.

The Steepers added that they were also disappointed with Ofsted's handling of the case.

The inquest into his death was opened and gave his cause of death as a brain injury and heart attack, but was put on hold pending the outcome of investigations.

His parents have since been campaigning against government suggestions to decrease the ratio of nursery carers to children to make childcare cheaper, with a petition gathering more than 100,000 signatures.

Swimming teacher Zoe had a second son, called Jake Oliver Steeper.

Surveyor Lewis said previously that the couple were so happy to have been given a second chance at parenthood.

He said: 'Oliver was our first, and honestly the best baby you could ever have wished for…he was just perfect.

'It's a strange feeling, knowing the new baby will probably look and sound the same as Oli.

'We are just happy we have been given another chance.'

And speaking of their bid to prevent changes that would see nursery staff looking after more kids Lewis added: 'After losing Oliver in an early years setting, we feel it's our duty now to protect other children from people who are trying to overhaul the sector.

'These are members of parliament who will never put their own children into a local nursery because of their wealth and privileges; who simply don't live in the real world the rest of us do and don't bat an eyelid at the cost of childcare.'

A spokesman for Kent Police said at the time: 'Kent Police carried out enquiries into the circumstances of a death at a childcare facility in Ashford on Thursday 23 September 2021.

'Following a thorough investigation, no further action is to be taken and the investigation has been filed pending further information coming to light.

'A report will be prepared for the coroner.'

A spokesperson for the CPS said at the time: 'Kent Police referred a file of evidence to the CPS seeking a charging decision for two suspects in relation to Oliver Steeper's death. After a careful review of all the evidence, we concluded that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for either suspect.'

'Oliver's death was a tragedy, and we understand how difficult it must have been for his family to hear our decision. Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.

'We have received a request from Oliver's family under the Victim's Right to Review Scheme. We will now conduct a further, full independent review of all the evidence. It would not be appropriate to comment further until the review has been completed.'