The coroner at the inquest of a baby who died after his brit has praised the strictly Orthodox ambulance service that took him to hospital, after the baby’s father questioned the first aiders’ techniques.
Amitai Moshe was circumcised on February 1 2007 in Golders Green Synagogue but shortly after the ceremony he began to turn blue and blood was seen around his mouth.
The Hatzola ambulance service was called and rushed him to hospital but he was pronounced dead eight days later at the University College London hospital.
Today, coroner, Andrew Walker at Hornsey Coroners’ Court, told David Bordon and David Strassman, the two Hatzola volunteers who attended to Amitai: “Not for one moment should you begin to blame yourself for what happened that day.
“Both of you did what you could to save Amitai’s life. Do not consider for one moment giving up your part in Hatzola which would be much the less without you.”
Yesterday, the court heard from Amitai’s father, Ran, who said that the Hatzola crew did not have the correct equipment when they arrived, including an oversized air mask and suction apparatus.
He said that he repeatedly asked them to do more to help their son.
The court also heard from Keith Miller, a London Ambulance paramedic who said that their ambulances supply baby sized equipment and he did not criticise the Hatzola crew for rushing straight to the hospital after they were unable to clear Amitai’s airway.
Mr Walker also ruled that the pathologist's report should no longer say that the baby's collapse “immediately followed” his circumcision.
He said: “The comment is founded on fact now known to be incorrect. It’s not correct to say the collapse occurred immediately following circumcision.”
The inquest continues.
