The four-month-old grandson of Manchester United legend Steve Bruce died after being placed in an 'unsafe sleeping position' by an unregulated maternity nurse, an inquest has heard. Madison Bruce Smith was found unresponsive by his father, former Leeds United and Fulham striker Matt Smith, on the morning of 18 October 2024. He could not be resuscitated at the family home in Trafford, Greater Manchester and was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital.
Eva Clements had been employed by Mr Smith and his wife, Bruce's daughter Amy, through a company named Ruthie Maternity Services after their son had difficulties sleeping in the afternoons. The parents believed Ms Clements was skilled, fully trained and vetted, but Stockport Coroner's Court heard that neither she nor the company were regulated. Ruth Asare, head of Ruthie Maternity Services, said she had no medical qualifications and only a first aid certificate and a Level 2 diploma in post-natal care gained from a three-day course and a six-month coursework project. Ms Clements said she had a degree in early years education but admitted she had no medical qualifications.
The inquest heard Madison's parents would 'never have dreamed' of putting their son to sleep on his stomach, but followed the advice of the maternity nurse who told them all four of her own babies had slept on their stomachs with no problems. This advice was contrary to recognised safe sleeping guidance from the NHS, which recommends placing babies on their backs to reduce the risk of sudden infant death.
Senior coroner for south Manchester, Alison Mutch, recorded a narrative conclusion stating that Madison died 'in circumstances where his death could not be ascertained while asleep in his cot having been placed in a prone and unsafe sleeping position'. She issued a prevention of future deaths report to the Secretary of State for Health, warning that the 'purported expertise' of untrained people posed a risk to all children. She noted that the term 'nurse' is not regulated, giving an 'illusion of someone who is highly trained'.
In a statement read to the court, Mr Smith said losing Madison was 'utterly excruciating' and that the family believed he died 'in a complete regulatory vacuum'. He warned that without regulation, 'this will happen again'. Steve Bruce, who was managing Blackpool FC at the time, missed the club's following game and said it had been 'the worst time of my family's entire lives'.
