Hospital treated murdered toddler day before another child died

Blackpool Victoria Hospital treated a second toddler for abuse just one day before another child, Preston Davey, died from fatal injuries inflicted by his adoptive father. Thirteen-month-old Preston died on July 27, 2023, after suffering sexual and physical abuse by Jamie Varley, a high school teacher. Varley's trial has sparked public outrage, prompting an independent review into how various agencies handled the case prior to Preston's death.

Damion Russell, aged two, was killed by his father, Daniel Hardcastle, weeks after hospital staff reportedly failed to question him about existing bruising on his head. A report by the Blackpool Safeguarding Children Partnership noted that this failure did not meet "expected practice." Hannah Joy Hocking, a friend assisting Damion's biological mother, believes any inquiry into child protection failures must include Damion's case.

"I've seen the news articles about Preston recently, and my brain instantly just went into thinking about Damion," Hocking stated, highlighting the proximity of the two tragic cases. Damion was seen at the hospital's A&E department the day before Preston's third visit. Court proceedings revealed that Damion had been subjected to a "horrifically violent" attack by his father in August 2023, shortly before his death.

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I've seen the news articles about Preston recently, and my brain instantly just went into thinking about Damion.