A 32-year-old father has been arrested after falling asleep on the sofa with his newborn daughter while drunk and accidentally killing her.

The father was on parole for drug and DUI convictions, and one judicial condition was that he was not allowed to consume alcohol.

However, on the night in question, he reportedly admitted to drinking before putting his 10-day-old daughter on his chest and falling asleep on the sofa.

The incident took place in the city of Boise in Ada County in the US state of Idaho on 15th December.

The Ada County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on 22nd December: “A 32-year-old Boise man on parole for felony DUI and drug convictions has been arrested in connection with the death of his 10-day-old daughter earlier this month.

“Kody Durfee is charged with felony injury to child and a felony enhancement count of infliction of great bodily injury. He is being held in the Ada County Jail.

“Durfee, who is not allowed to consume any alcohol as part of his parole agreement, told investigators he had been drinking before he put his infant daughter on his chest and fell asleep on a couch around 8 p.m. on Dec. 15.”

A family member arrived at the home a short while later and found the baby was “wedged between Durfee and the couch and was unresponsive”.

The police said: “Family members began CPR on the infant immediately and called 911. Paramedics showed up and took over, eventually taking the infant to a local hospital, where she was declared dead a short time later.

“Detectives continued to gather evidence and do interviews. The Ada County Prosecutor’s Office issued an arrest warrant for the felony injury to child case Wednesday. Deputies served Durfee with the warrant in the jail.”

The police added: “The crime of felony injury to child, with the great bodily injury enhancement, is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.”