A "happy, intelligent" little boy died after choking on a grape while sitting at home watching television, an inquest heard.
Jenil Sharma was eating the fruit – his favourite food – in the lounge of the family home in Wand Street, Belgrave, Leicester, on February 24, when the tragedy happened.
The two-year-old, who was the only child of Mayur Sharma and wife Kruti, was pronounced dead at Leicester Royal Infirmary after efforts to revive him failed.
The heartbroken couple were at Leicester Town Hall for their son's inquest yesterday, following the proceedings with the help of a Gujarati interpreter.
Detective Constable Joseph Masarella, of Leicestershire police, gave Mrs Sharma's account of what happened.
He said it was routine for police to be involved following the unexpected death of a child, but stressed there were "no suspicious circumstances, whatsoever" in Jenil's death.
He told the inquest: "Jenil had been eating grapes from a bowl in the living room and watching TV with his seven-year-old cousin, while Mrs Sharma was in the kitchen preparing food.
"She heard him make a strange sound and went to the door, where his cousin said a grape had stuck in Jenil's throat.
"Mrs Sharma tried to reach it but was unable to. She put the boy over her lap and gently slapped his back to dislodge the grape but was unsuccessful.
"From there, she ran to get help from neighbours and passers-by, but none were able to."
Jenil's cousin telephoned relatives, who contacted the ambulance service at 5.45pm. An ambulance arrived 10 minutes later, the inquest heard.
Paramedics quickly removed the grape using a specialist tool but, by then, Jenil had stopped breathing and gone into cardiac arrest.
Efforts to resuscitate the youngster continued en-route to hospital.
Dr Samantha Jones, consultant in paediatric emergency medicine at Leicester Royal Infirmary, said the ambulance arrived at 6.07pm, where her emergency team was waiting.
"Jenil was very pale and there was a blueness to his skin, which suggested oxygen was not getting to where it needed to," she said.
Resuscitation efforts continued for more than 20 minutes, but she then took the decision continued efforts were "futile" and it was stopped at 6.29pm, she said.
A report prepared by Dr Jones stated Jenil's death was due to cardio-respiratory arrest, caused by a lack of oxygen, in turn caused by "an obstruction in the throat caused by a foreign body".
Speaking to Jenil's parents, she said: "I would like to express my condolences to the family about this horrific situation and we are truly sorry for your loss.
"I want to tell Mrs Sharma she did exactly the right thing to help Jenil. What she did is what medical professionals teach people."
Coroner Donald Coutts-Wood recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Speaking after the inquest, Mr Sharma said: "We are devastated by the loss of our only child.
"Jenil was a very happy baby – curious, sharp and intelligent for his age. We will miss him terribly."
Mrs Sharma said: "Although Jenil's death was a tragic accident, I would like first aid skills to be routinely offered to first-time parents.
"It could not save our son, but if this can help save another young child then it will be a tribute to him."
The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust said first aid was only routinely taught to parents of babies on neonatal wards but was available from community health services.
For information on first aid courses run by St John Ambulance, visit:
www.sja.org.uk
