A full inquest is set to be held following the death of an 11-year-old boy in Oldham last year.

At Rochdale Coroners Court yesterday (Wednesday, September 4), the inquest into the death of Mario McDonnell was opened by senior coroner for Manchester North, Joanne Kearsley.

Police coroners officer Bernadette Hatton told the court that Mario was a schoolboy from Chadderton who died on August 1 last year.

The court heard that at the beginning of 2023, Mario had suffered two unwitnessed seizures.

On the night of July 29, 2023, Mario slept in a bed with his mother and in the early hours of the next morning he was seen shaking.

Mario was said to have been "fine" on July 30, however on the morning of August 1, he was found unresponsive in bed.

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to The Oldham Times' morning and evening newsletters as well as our breaking news alerts 

The court heard a post-mortem examination was carried out by Dr Philip Lumb, however Mario's cause of death was unascertained.

Ms Kearsley told the court that genetic tests had taken place but the results were around six months away from being available.

She said that as Mario's cause of death was unascertained, an inquest needed to be opened.

Ms Kearsley added there was "nothing to suggest" Mario's death was unnatural.

A review date for the inquest was set for next year however a date for a full inquest was not confirmed.