A two-year-old boy who spent five days in a coma after choking on a grape at a Pizza Hut restaurant has died.
Jacob Jenkins was rushed to hospital in an air ambulance after the incident in Hartlepool on Friday and placed in an induced coma that evening.
It was hoped that Jacob would be taken off life-support at Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle on Wednesday morning, however after further tests his parents chose to let the toddler die at 7pm that evening.
At the time of his death hundreds of well-wishers released yellow balloons on the seafront at Seaton Carew, the Hartlepool Mail reported.
The boy’s mother Abigail Wilson said: "Me and David want to thank every single person for their support over these awful last few days.
"Jacob has gained his Angel wings at 7pm as you all set off your balloons.
"There was nothing else that could be done for Jacob, and as hard as it was we chose that time because we knew he would be in thousands of people's minds at that moment," the Hartlepool Mail reports.
A friend of the family, Ben Picken, who set-up a fundraising page for the toddler, said: “His parents now need time to grieve properly and come to terms with losing their baby boy.
“It is now with a heavy heart I write that this fund will now go towards Jacob's funeral costs and gives the parents a bit of space to not have to worry about going back to work for the foreseeable future.”
The page has received over £8,200 so far.
Jacob stopped breathing for around 30 minutes after a grape became lodged in his throat at a Pizza Hut branch in Hartlepool Marina, prompting a huge effort by first aiders to resuscitate him.
The restaurant remained closed until Monday following the incident.
A Pizza Hut spokesman told the Mirror: “Following careful consideration and discussion with the staff involved, we have now re-opened our Hartlepool Hut.
“Our thoughts continue to be very much with Jacob and his family at this very difficult time.”
