Oscar Roome death: Boy choked on 'number of tomatoes', inquest told

Oscar Roome was pronounced dead in hospital a day after choking

A 10-year-old boy choked to death after placing "a number of cherry tomatoes in his mouth" while eating lunch at school, an inquest has heard.

Oscar Roome, from Chazey Heath, Oxfordshire, had been having his packed lunch in the playground of Kidmore End CE Primary School on 23 June.

Oxford Coroner's Court heard speculation Oscar had been dared to put multiple tomatoes in his mouth had been ruled out after an investigation.

The death was recorded as an accident.

Coroner Darren Salter said: "It was something that Oscar chose to do but clearly not in the knowledge it would be such a tragic consequence."

Kidmore End CE Primary School created a mural for Oscar that it said was "very much a feature of everyday life at school"

Duncan Roome, Oscar's father, said his son always had six cherry tomatoes in his packed lunch and that putting several in his mouth "wasn't the kind of thing he would do as a dare".

Mr Roome thanked school staff and paramedics who performed first aid and prolonged CPR at the scene.

In a statement, Oscar's family said he would be remembered for his "kindness, cheeky smile, sense of humour and humble intelligence".

"We, his parents, and his siblings, are heartbroken," they added.

Staff and pupils at the school, which is near Reading, have created a mural for Oscar that they described as "very much a feature of everyday life at school".

"We have an incredibly strong school community and we will be doing our utmost to support Oscar's family, our pupils and staff as we come to terms with what has happened together," a school spokesperson said.

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