An inquest has opened into the death of a four-year-old boy who died just days after going into hospital feeling unwell.

Harry Broughton passed away at Evelina London Children's Hospital after falling ill over the Easter holidays.

A hearing at County Hall in Maidstone was told Harry, who attended West Minster Primary School on Sheppey, was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, early on Monday, April 18, with breathing difficulties.

Mum Nicola, of Shore Close, Sheerness, told KentOnline: "He was sick on the Sunday night, and into the early hours of Monday.

"He just kept continuously being sick and had a high temperature."

The 37-year-old explained that prior to his sudden turn Harry felt fine.

"It was really weird because he woke up the early hours of the Sunday and told me he had a sore throat," she said.

"I gave him some medicine and then he was absolutely fine all day. He was out washing the car with his grandad, absolutely fine.

"But then came Sunday night, it was about 9.30pm, and he literally just threw up everywhere.

"And that was it, from then it was just constant sickness and a high temperature.

"The more he was sick, the faster his breathing got."

After his breathing improved, doctor's sent him home with antibiotics.

However, his condition further deteriorated and he was taken back to hospital.

Nicola added: "After we brought him home with all the antibiotics he was still continuing to be sick.

"He was breathing quite fast so me and my husband took him straight back to hospital."

Medics believed he had croup, a respiratory infection which is usually caused by a virus.

While being treated and having a cannula IV inserted, Harry went into cardiac arrest in his mother's arms.

As he was being resuscitated, a mucus plug – a collection of mucus that can reduce airflow in a person's airways – was removed.

It was believed to have been the cause of the cardiac arrest.

Harry was transferred to Evelina London Children's Hospital on Tuesday, April 19.

They found he had flu, which was thought to have been the cause of his breathing problems.

A CT scan confirmed the youngster had suffered from a hypoxic brain injury, something caused by a restricted supply of oxygen.

He died on Thursday, April 21.

Nicola added: "By the time he got to the Evelina, he was already in a coma and there was no turning that around.

"On the Wednesday, his right pupil dilated, so the brain injury was obviously on the right side of his brain.

"But by the Thursday, it was the whole brain."

The coroner reported that Harry's death was caused by the brain injury, after he had experienced an acute obstruction of his upper airway caused by an acute respiratory tract infection.

In a previous tribute to her little boy, Nicola said: “Harry was a very happy active boy and was very friendly with everyone he met.

“He has a passion for dinosaurs and loved to play outside.”

Harry leaves behind his mum, his dad Robert, 38, and his brothers and sisters Rubie, William, Lillie and Evie-Mae.

His funeral took place on Tuesday, May 24, at the Garden of England Crematorium in Bobbing, near Sittingbourne.

A full inquest will take place on January 12 at County Hall, Maidstone.