A baby who died just 30 hours after being born in the toilet of his parents house in Penryn could have been saved if he had been taken to hospital, an inquest has heard.

Charlie Jermyn, son of Hayley and mark Jermyn, died on May 11 last year of brain damage due to an aggresive strepotoccocal infection, after midwives did not spot warning signs which would have meant he was sent to hospital.

On the evening before his birth his mother attended the day assessment unit at the Royal Cornwall Hospital as her waters had broken. But after about five hours at the unit it was agreed that she go home as midwife Jayne Canvin felt that she was not in "established labour."

Just after 6am the follwoing morning, May 10, Hayley gave birth to Charlie into the toilet of her home on Penlee Road, and father Mark recovered him and removed the umbilical cord from around his neck.

Shortly after that, she was attended by midwife Sue Merritt, who stayed with the family for three hours and told the inquest that "he was a well baby at the time that I examined him."

She also said that if there had been any sign he was not well she would have had him transferred to hospital.

Dr James Grey, a consultant microbiologist, said that there were several signs that indicated Charlie needed to go to hospital by 6pm that day, following a visit by the community midwife.

He said the fact that Charlie was feeding poorly, coupled with his mother reporting he was sleepy, should were both clinical indicators of an infection, and said two or more clinical indicators or risk factors mean a child should be transferred to hospital.

He also said that if Hayley had reported that her son was "grunting" as she said, that was a "red flag indicator" meaning he should have been examined by a paediatrician and admitted to hospital to be treated with antibiotics.

He said if Charlie had been seen as soon as he showed signs of infection and received treatment, "in my opinion he would have survived in such circumstances."

The inquest continues today at City Hall, Truro.