Tragic revelation, a two-year-old child named Bronson Battersby succumbed to starvation beside his deceased father, Kenneth, following a reported heart attack. The heart-wrenching discovery unfolded as the family disclosed that Bronson was found curled up in his pyjamas next to Kenneth, 60, who is believed to have suffered a heart attack shortly after being last seen alive on Boxing Day.
The devastating incident came to light when a routine visit by a social worker to their Skegness, Lincolnshire home on January 2 yielded no response. Subsequent attempts on January 4 met with the same result, prompting the social worker to contact the police. Shockingly, the lifeless bodies of Kenneth and Bronson, classified as vulnerable and subject to weekly checks, remained undiscovered until January 9, when the social worker, employing a key from the landlord, entered the premises.
Bronson’s mother, Sarah Piesse, asserted that if social services had fulfilled their responsibilities, her son would still be alive. Expressing her dismay, she stated, “I can’t believe it. They can’t let them get away with this. We have to be able to rely on social workers to keep our children safe.”
The post-mortem results revealed that Bronson perished due to starvation following his father’s demise, estimated to have occurred no earlier than December 29. Sarah lamented that had the social worker insisted on gaining entry on January 2, Bronson might have survived.
In an emotional Facebook post, Bronson’s sister, Melaniie Battersby, commemorated her brother, declaring, “Beautiful little boy deserved so much better than this life. We love you Bronson, forever a part of us, and forever my baby brother.”
Sarah last saw Bronson after a disagreement with Kenneth before Christmas. The toddler, known for enjoying Cocomelon and nursery rhymes, was described by a family friend as a child who cherished playing his Little Tykes drum kit.
Despite receiving text messages from the social worker, the lack of response during the scheduled visits prompted her to enter the residence on January 9. The police, notified immediately, pronounced both Kenneth and Bronson dead at the scene.
Kenneth, unemployed with a pre-existing heart condition, had become severely jaundiced in the months preceding his demise. Bronson, categorized as vulnerable by social services, was subject to weekly visits. The social worker involved has reportedly taken voluntary time off, and a review of the case is underway.
Heather Sandy, executive director for children’s services, expressed condolences, stating, “This was a tragic incident, and we are supporting the family at this difficult time.” Authorities await the results of the coroner’s investigations, with Lincolnshire Police confirming that the deaths are not being treated as suspicious.
