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Toddler's Death: Button Battery Burns Through Oesophagus
21 Jan
Summary
- A two-year-old girl died after swallowing a button battery.
- The battery burned through her oesophagus and a major artery.
- Her mother advocates for awareness after the tragic loss.

A devastating incident occurred on May 21, 2021, when two-year-old Harper-Lee Fanthorpe tragically died after swallowing a button battery. Her mother, Stacy Nicklin, recounted the harrowing events that began on a seemingly ordinary Sunday morning.
Initially, Harper-Lee displayed symptoms of throat discomfort, which her mother attributed to a recurring tonsillitis. However, the situation rapidly escalated when Harper-Lee began spitting blood, prompting an emergency response.
Upon arrival at Royal Stoke University Hospital, surgeons discovered a button battery lodged in the child's body. This battery had caused severe internal damage, burning through her oesophagus and a critical artery connected to her heart.




