Five unanswered questions after boy left to roam hospital 'kills newborn baby'

The death of a premature newborn baby who was allegedly dropped on the floor by a boy left to roam a hospital by himself has shocked the world.

Zayneb-Cassandra wasn't even a week old when a six-year-old child is believed to have picked her up at Jeanne-de-Flandre Children’s Hospital in Lille, France last Friday. The boy is then understood to have dropped her on her head.

Despite being rushed to an intensive care unit, the little girl sadly died from a traumatic brain injury on Tuesday. Zayneb's devastated family described how the tragedy has completely "destroyed" their lives as they come to terms with what happened.

READ MORE: Dad's agony after baby 'killed by boy, 6, loose on ward' as family blast hospital

READ MORE: Brit friends who died 'jumping into hotel pool' named as parents face 'nightmare'

But how did the terrible incident happen? Below are five unanswered questions over the baby's death.

Why was the baby left alone?

Zayneb was born at just seven-and-a-half months old after mum Sephora, 23, had developed preeclampsia. She was induced and the baby was born on July 6 to the relief of her joyous parents.

A couple of days later she was transferred to the standard neonatal care unit at the hospital - the 'Arc-en-ciel' ward - where she was due to spend a month and a half in a comfortable crib with a heated mattress.

Sephora was on the floor above signing her own discharge papers when the boy is understood to have entered the room. At this point, no other family members or staff were in the room with Zayneb.

Where were the boy's parents?

The boy is believed to have already been a ‘disruptive presence’ around the hospital before the fatal incident. He was said to be the son of another mum on the maternity ward at the time was spotted moving around the hospital unattended.

"Every six-year-old is a little disruptive," he said, before adding, "But the child should have been supervised," Zayneb's grieving dad Mohamed-Hamza, 23, said. It remains unknown where exactly boy's mum was or - if she was in bed - where his dad was.

Why have the boy's parents remained silent?

Mohamed-Hamza said that he and wife have yet to be contacted by the boy's parents. However, the warehouse worker said that he holds no grudge against the woman whose son may have accidentally killed his daughter.

"I don't blame the mother; she had just given birth..." he said. No further details have yet been given about the boy or his parents at the time of writing.

Why hasn't the hospital apologised?

According to Zayneb's family, the Jeanne-de-Flandre Children’s Hospital has yet to offer an apology to them. Mohamed-Hamza's cousin Karima claimed that the hospital showed little empathy afterwards.

She said: "The director told us that there would be work in the Rainbow department in 2030... Was this really the right time to talk to us about this?" While grandmother Fatma complained: "I was the one who had to ask the hospital staff for psychological support for my daughter, who had just lost her child."

A spokesperson for the hospital, however, did say: "This human tragedy has deeply affected the staff and teams of Lille University Children’s Hospital, as well as the other families present."

What happens next?

A criminal investigation has been opened by the juvenile unit of the Lille Judicial Police Service. A spokesman for Lille prosecutors confirmed: "Investigations are currently underway in this case."

While the hospital added that "an internal administrative investigation" has also been opened. In addition, strict measure have been put in place at the hospital to limit visitors since the incident.

"It won't bring my daughter back... But we're waiting for answers. There was a breach, and I'm going to fight to identify those responsible. Justice will do its job," said Mohamed-Hamza.