A family member has shared that a toddler, only two years old, was abandoned and died from starvation while lying next to his deceased father, who had experienced a fatal heart attack.
On January 9th, Bronson Battersby and his 60-year-old father, Kenneth, were discovered deceased at their residence in Skegness, Lincolnshire. This was 14 days after they had been last seen.
The Lincolnshire County Council is conducting an investigation into the passing of the young child, who was considered to be at risk and received monthly check-ins from the children’s services department.
On January 2nd, a social worker visited the residence after attempting to reach the father on December 27th. However, there was no response. The social worker then checked other possible locations where the child might be and reached out to the police. Two days later, the social worker returned to the house without prior notice and once again contacted the police due to no reply.
The family informed the Sun that the father and son’s bodies were not discovered until several days later when a social worker entered the home with a key provided by the landlord.
The boy’s mother, Sarah Piesse, 43, said she last saw her son before Christmas after a row with Kenneth. Her ex is thought to have died of a heart attack no earlier than 29 December.
According to Piesse, the postmortem examination revealed that her son’s cause of death was dehydration and starvation.
She stated that Bronson died from starvation after his father passed away. They believe Kenneth died on or after December 29th.
She stated: “I was unable to lift him due to his delicate state. I could only make contact with him. He had been abandoned for a significant amount of time.”
Melanie Battersby, the sister of the boy, honored him on Facebook by saying, “This sweet little boy deserved a much better life. We will always love you, Bronson. You will forever be a part of us and my baby brother.”
She expressed that she was feeling both emotionally and mentally shattered, stating: “I have a lot of anger right now. I just want to remember his sweet smile and gentle personality instead. He was perfect.”
According to the Sun, the boy’s last known sighting was when he greeted a neighbor who had come to visit him and his father on Boxing Day.
Kenneth Battersby had been jobless and had a pre-existing heart condition that had resulted in him developing severe jaundice prior to his passing.
A family acquaintance informed the Sun newspaper: “It is devastating. Bronson deserved much better. He was a kind and lovable child. He was discovered huddled at Kenneth’s feet. He was left alone in the darkness and must have been frightened and disoriented.”
She mentioned that the young boy was a fan of watching cartoons on the YouTube channel Cocomelon, enjoyed nursery rhymes, and had a passion for playing with his drum set.
The executive director of children’s services in Lincolnshire, Heather Sandy, expressed her condolences regarding the tragic incident. She stated that the family is receiving support during this challenging period. A thorough review of the case is being conducted in collaboration with other agencies to gain a better understanding of the situation. The findings of the coroner’s investigations are also eagerly awaited.
We are sending our thoughts to the family and friends of those who were involved.
The social worker in question has not been placed on suspension, but has instead chosen to take some time off.
A representative from the Lincolnshire police department stated that they were notified of the passing of a 60-year-old man and a two-year-old child at a residence in Skegness on January 9th at approximately 3:25pm. After conducting investigations, the deaths have been determined to be non-suspicious.
“At this time, it would be inappropriate to provide further comments as we await a future review that will analyze the actions of the involved organizations.”
A representative from the East Midlands ambulance service stated that they were notified of a medical emergency at a location in Skegness at 4:20pm on January 9th. They dispatched an ambulance with a full team and three paramedics in individual response cars.
Source: theguardian.com
