Toddler was 2 inches too small to reach fridge as he starved to death, says mum
Bronson Battersby starved to death next to his father's body with a fridge full of food that could have saved him just two inches out of reach, his heartbroken mum claims.
Sarah Piesse, 43, revealed the family had moved snacks from a low cupboard to prevent him from helping himself to his sweet treats. She has now opened up on her harrowing thoughts of her 'gorgeous boy' frantically searching through the dark in a bid to find food and water, but being simply too small to grasp the tap or fridge door.
On January 9, following two attempts to alarm the police, a social worker retrieved a key from the landlord in a bid to give Bronson and his father, Kenny, a visit. Upon entering the home, she made the harrowing discovery that the youngster's dad had suffered a heart attack, and without food and water, the toddler had passed away by his dad's side.
This year, Bronson headed to his dad's for Christmas Day, where he celebrated with an array of exciting presents. The fridge would have been full of leftovers — a cruel reality which Sarah finds deeply upsetting.
She told The Sun: "All the food would have still been in the fridge. If only Bronson was a little bit taller, then he would have survived. The fridge would have been packed with Christmas leftovers.”
'Gorgeous' boy, 2, dies of starvation alone lying next to his dead dad
Sarah and Bronson on his first birthday
Bronson pictured with his adoring dad, Kenny (Facebook)The harrowing situation has rendered Sarah devastated. She claims she will never forgive herself for not having the chance to be there for her son, with the ordeal giving her sleepless nights.
She said: “It is haunting me. If I can fall asleep at all, it is only for a few hours. I jolt awake thinking of him wandering around alone, starving. He must have been so weak in the end that he decided to give up and hold on to his dad, hugging his legs. I will never forgive myself for not being there.
“When I picture him alone in that flat, it makes me feel like a failure, cruel, selfish. That little boy was sitting there wanting a drink, wanting something to eat. It breaks my heart even more. I just don’t understand why the alarm wasn’t raised sooner. Why didn’t they do it? I am in a living nightmare, and I am never going to wake up from it.”
A Lincolnshire County Council spokesperson confirmed to the Mirror that Kenneth and Bronson were discovered by a social worker and the property's landlady on January 9. They said it was "unlawful" for the social worker to otherwise gain entry, adding they are "devastated". The spokesperson said: "On Tuesday the 9th [the social worker] went round again to see Bronson. The landlady arrived with a key and went inside with the social worker where they found tragically two bodies, which is just awful and devastating for all involved."
A spokeswoman for Lincolnshire Police told the Mirror: "Police were made aware of the deaths of a 60-year-old man and a two-year-old child at a property in Skegness, at around 3.25pm on January 9. Investigations have been carried out and the deaths are not being treated as suspicious. The matter has been passed to the coroner’s office.”
A spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct said: “We can confirm that we have received a referral in relation to this matter from Lincolnshire Police and we are now assessing that to determine what further action is required from us.”
Heather Sandy, executive director for children’s services, said: “This was a tragic incident, and we are supporting the family at this difficult time. We are currently carrying out a review of the case alongside partner agencies to better understand the circumstances, and we await the results of the coroner’s investigations as well. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved.”
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