A distraught dad stabbed himself in the neck then slashed his wrists after telling a 999 operator he had killed his baby son.

Michael Greenwood had woken on the sofa at his Bradford home to find nine-month-old Kian lying lifeless next to him.

An inquest in Bradford heard yesterday how last September the hard-working dad had got up in the early hours to take his turn to soothe his teething son.

He took him out of his cot and downstairs before rocking him to sleep, putting him on the sofa and lying down next to him.

In a statement read to the hearing, Mr Greenwood said: “Kian was between me and the back of the sofa. I didn’t mean to fall sleep.”

Discovering him motionless, he tried to give him mouth-to-mouth before ringing 999 and saying: “I’ve killed my son. He’s not breathing.”

He ran to the attic bedroom to get Kian’s mother Stacey Oliver who ran screaming into the street to get help.

Mr Greenwood then described how he ran into the kitchen and got a knife. He said: “I wanted to be dead. I did not want him to be alone.”

He ran to a bus shelter, off Wakefield Road, where he stabbed himself. But he dropped the knife and so smashed a bottle and slashed his wrists.

He managed to get back to his home in Paley Terrace, East Bowling, and was rushed to hospital.

The inquest heard that earlier in the evening Mr Greenwood had bathed his son and rubbed whisky on to his sore gums.

After tea Mr Greenwood had taken Kian up to his cot and settled him – Kian then slept until 1.30am before teething woke him.

Coroner Roger Whittaker said although lessons could be learned “there was no point” either Mr Greenwood or Miss Oliver blaming themselves for what happened.

And he said it could be understood how tired Mr Greenwood had been because of working hard, then sharing the care of his son.

A post-mortem revealed no signs of Mr Greenwood having lain on his son and that Kian had died from inhaling his own vomit.

Mr Whittaker said Kian had come from a caring, loving family and that he was satisfied he had got himself into a position in the crook of the couch and its base where he had vomited.

Recording a verdict of accidental death he said: “It was a straight forward but tragic accident. Working as hard as Mr Greenwood did, one can understand how tired he was, how it overcame him and the anguish which led him to do what he did to himself.

“I would urge parents lulling their babies off to sleep to always put them back in their cot. Do not put the baby on the sofa or lie with the child.

“Neither Michael nor Stacey need reminding of this but if others can be warned of the potential of a tragedy like this happening then I shall be pleased.”

e-mail: kathie.griffiths @telegraphandargus.co.uk