PARENTS have paid tribute to their bubbly son who died suddenly in his cot, at five months old.

Katie Jones, a care worker from Colchester, had come home from a night shift on Sunday morning and went to check on her baby, Johnny.

He was blue and was not breathing. Her husband Sam performed CPR but the couple were told at Colchester General Hospital he had died.

Mrs Jones, 27, of Beechwood Close, said her son was the happiest boy.

She said: “He became the most adorable, loveliest baby. He was so content and was always giggling.”

Katie needed an emergency C-section, having been in labour for 41 hours.

She had sepsis and Johnny caught the infection, meaning he spent eight days in the neonatal unit. Apart from this, and a spate of colic, he was a healthy baby and Katie went back to work in July.

She said: “On Saturday night I put him to bed. Sam had fed him at about 5am.

“I came home at 7.30am and everything was locked up, I knew something wasn’t right as usually everyone is up.”

Husband Sam, 22, a vehicle mechanic in the army, was still asleep.

Katie added: “Johnny was on his side. He was blue, and he had vomit and blood around his face.

“I just remember screaming. Sam ran in and started doing CPR while I called 999.

“I have had training to stay calm on the phone but when it’s your own child, you just can’t.”

The couple saw the colour start to return in his face. However Katie knew deep down he had gone.

Katie said: “It was just unbelievable, but we said our goodbyes.

“He was laying down, I just remember saying to him ‘you are going to be looked after by your nanny and grandad’.

“I was telling him who to look out for, and we would eventually see him soon. He was so cold, his soul had gone.”

The couple is waiting to find out the cause of death, but are raising money for other parents to learn CPR.

The army community encouraged them to set up a fundraising page, and are organising a festival in his memory.

Katie said: “Hospitals do not teach baby CPR and it costs £40 a session, parents shouldn’t have to pay to save their child’s life. We will also deliver courses so they know the basic background.

“We never expected the response. Everyone is finding ways to raise money and CPR trainers have been offering free courses.”

Johnny will be remembered as a happy baby. Katie said: “We used to call him meatball as he had a giant head. He loved music and was a fan of George Ezra.”

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/johnny-jones-494.

To help out with the festival email katie.bates@hotmail.co.uk.