Young boy's death investigated

15-month-old Leith Allen Hutchison died in Starship Hospital on Tuesday. Photo / supplied

Police have launched a full inquiry into the death of a 15-month-old Cobden boy after he was taken to Grey Base Hospital not breathing and suffering cardiac arrest last Tuesday.

Leith Allen Hutchison was resuscitated and immediately flown to Starship Hospital, in Auckland, but died there on Thursday.

Today, police said they were awaiting results of a post-mortem examination to confirm a brain injury and were working with Child, Youth and Family to ensure other family members were safe.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dan Keno said they were considering all options, including the possibility Leith may have been assaulted in some way.

The funeral notice in today's Greymouth Star says Leith was the cherished son of Kate Hutchison and Dane Blake, and has a 3-year-old brother.

Mr Keno said a family member took the toddler to Grey Base Hospital in the early hours of April 21, and after being transferred by air ambulance to Starship it was established he was suffering from a bleed on his brain.

"Unfortunately, his condition worsened and he died early on Thursday evening after life support was removed," Mr Keno said.

Police were today awaiting results from a post mortem to confirm the brain injury had led to Leith's death. Inquiries were focused on establishing the exact cause and timing of the brain injury.

"We are speaking to family members and anyone who had been in Leith's company over the last few weeks of his life in an effort to piece together what has happened," Mr Keno said.

"This is a tragic loss of such a young life and my deepest sympathies go out to all his family."

The funeral will be conducted at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Greymouth tomorrow afternoon.

Meanwhile, a Givealittle page for the public to make online donations for Leith's family, set up last week, was disabled just before noon after raising more than $1000.

A Givealittle spokesman said the page had been marked as 'restricted' after an investigation.

Donations had been disabled and the funds raised so far would be held in trust awaiting an indication from police on their investigation into the death.

Until today, the public had been urged to donate to take some stress away from Leith's family, noting that "very little bit will help".

The page went on to say that Leith was much loved.

"His mum and dad are amazing parents and always have given a much as they can with very limited funds," the page said.

In a Facebook post, Leith's mother Kate Hutchison thanked staff at Starship Hospital who fought to save Leith's life: "I'm just heartbroken he didn't make it ... gone but never forgotten."

Leith's family issued a statement today via police saying they were "devastated by the death of our son and grandson Leith".

"He brought joy to our lives and will be sadly missed."

The family said they were cooperating fully with the police investigation and hoped it would give them the answers they needed to explain the loss of "our beautiful boy".

"We are grateful for the support we have received from those around us."

The family asked for privacy.