Toddler Dies of Starvation After Father Suffered Heart Attack, Leaving Him Alone at Home
In a heartbreaking incident in the United Kingdom, a 2-year-old boy, Bronson Battersby, was tragically found dead from starvation alongside his father, who had passed away from a heart attack. This distressing event occurred in their Lincolnshire home and was reported by the BBC. Kenneth Battersby, the 60-year-old father, suffered the fatal heart attack around December 26, leaving young Bronson alone and helpless.
The last known sighting of the father and son was just before Mr. Kenneth’s heart attack. Following the incident, the toddler was left without care, leading to his untimely death. The Lincolnshire County Council has since initiated a thorough review into this tragic case, as Bronson was fondly remembered as the “light of his dad’s eye.”
A crucial detail emerged from the BBC report, noting that a social worker visited their home on January 2, following an unsuccessful attempt to contact the father on December 27. After receiving no response and checking other potential locations for the child, the social worker alerted the police. Despite a follow-up visit to the house and further police contact, the grim discovery of their bodies was only made days later when the social worker accessed the home using a key from the landlord.
Heather Sandy, the executive director of children’s services at Lincolnshire County Council, expressed her deep sorrow over the incident. She emphasized the unfortunate circumstances that led to the double tragedy, citing Kenneth’s sudden heart attack and the consequent lack of care for Bronson.
The Guardian reported additional details provided by the boy’s mother, Sarah Piesse. She recounted her last meeting with her son before Christmas, following a disagreement with Mr. Kenneth. It’s believed that Kenneth died of a heart attack, not before December 29. A postmortem report, which the mother had access to, indicated that Bronson likely died from dehydration and starvation.
Lincolnshire Police have stated that they are not treating the deaths as suspicious. However, they have proactively referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as a standard procedure in such situations. Additionally, Lincolnshire County Council is conducting a rapid review of the incident, involving collaboration with the police force and relevant health organizations, to thoroughly investigate and understand the circumstances leading to these tragic deaths.