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A baby died after pulling down a kettle and tipping boiling water over his face, an inquest heard.

Ivan Peev was a month shy of his first birthday when the tragic accident happened at his home in Harlington Road West, Feltham, on February 20 last year.

He died three days later in hospital after developing an infection and going into cardiac arrest, West London Coroner's Court heard today.

His mother Krasimira Peeva wept as she told the court how she had placed baby Ivan on top of the washing machine beside the electric kettle as she attended to the dishes that morning.

She said she had only turned away for a moment when she heard a piercing scream and spun round to find the kettle lying on the floor and her 'happy, healthy boy' wailing in agony.

"I turned round to place a bowl in the sink and that moment I heard Ivan scream. I didn't see it happen. All I remember is him screaming," said the 27-year-old.

Ivan's father Stanislav Peev, a 34-year-old Bulgarian car washer, who had left for work when the accident happened, told the court he was 'a strong lad' and had probably picked up the kettle rather than tugging the cord.

The 11-month-old was taken to West Middlesex before being transferred to a specialist unit at Broomfield Hospital, in Cheltenham, where he underwent a skin graft operation.

He appeared to be stable when on the morning of February 23 he went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 5.40am.

A post mortem examination revealed significant traces of staphylococcus aureus, a common bacteria which only becomes dangerous when it gets into the body, often following burns.

Recording a conclusion of accidental death, assistant coroner for west London Jeremy Chipperfield said it was toxins released by this bacteria which had led to Ivan's death.