Family issue button battery warning three years after the death of toddler

A family from Motherwell are marking the third anniversary of their 19 month old son's death - who passed away after swallowing the button battery from a teething toy.

Little Hughie McMahon was a healthy and happy boy who became seriously unwell on Christmas Eve in 2021, to the shock of his parents, Hugh and Christine.

He was struggling to breathe and lost a lot of blood, and was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow where doctors quickly established the cause of his illness was the ingestion of a button battery.

Button batteries can be found in a range of items including bath toys, light-up shoes and welly boots, teething toys and more.

If swallowed, the lithium battery becomes acidic and can burn through the oesophagus and organs.

Hughie was on life support until Boxing Day, when he tragically passed away in hospital.

His uncle, James McMahon, has told Clyde 1 it is an incredibly difficult time of year for their whole family.

He said: "Wee Hughie was just like another little boy his age. Just a wee infant.

"He enjoyed watching cartoons, motorbikes and cars.

"He was a happy and healthy boy who had his whole life ahead of him.

"Every Christmas time that goes by is now a reminder of what happened to Hughie - particularly for my brother Hugh and his wife Christine. I can't imagine the pain and devastation that has been left behind for them."

James wants to remind parents to check all toys to ensure the battery compartment is securely tightened, with all screws intact, so that no other children get their hands on batteries.

He added: "We're still traumatised and devastated by the dangers and the damage that these batteries can cause.

"We need to raise awareness about this, because it hasn't just happened to wee Hughie - it's happened to so many kids around the world."

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