KEY POINTS:
A 3-year-old Napier boy is dead after choking to death on a lolly at his own birthday party.
The parents of the boy, who has not been publicly identified, tried to dislodge the sweet from his throat but were unable to save him.
The boy had turned 3 about two weeks before, but the family had waited until Easter to hold his birthday party.
He was celebrating with relatives and friends when the tragedy happened in Greenmeadows on Saturday afternoon.
Police said the boy ran to his parents when he choked on the sweet.
"They've tried to dislodge what was choking him," Senior Sergeant Mal Lochrie said.
"At the same time, they've rung 111 and ambulance have arrived, but they weren't able to revive him."
Mr Lochrie said other partygoers witnessed the boy's death.
"It was his own birthday. Parents and grandparents were there. Friends were there. It's very sad, very tragic."
Mr Lochrie said the boy was dead when police were called at 1.50pm.
"When we were called the ambulance was already there requesting us because everyone was pretty distressed," Mr Lochrie said.
Plunket child safety adviser Sue Campbell said the organisation had "incredible sympathy for the family in this tragic situation".
Plunket encourages parents to ensure children are sitting down when they are eating and, where possible, that they are supervised.
Ms Campbell said best practice was not to give small hard foods, such as peanuts, to under 5-year-olds.
But she said choking was a hazard that could never be fully eliminated.
"You cannot stop kids being kids; you cannot stop having birthday parties and nor should you.
"It's just something to be constantly aware of," Ms Campbell said.
Professor Innes Asher, who works at the University of Auckland department of paediatrics and at the Starship children's hospital in Grafton, said the general rule was that anything small enough to go down a child's airway should not be in his or her mouth.
