06 June 2024 , 14:34
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Two-year-old Bronson Battersby was found dead alongside his father Kenneth in Skegness, Lincolnshire, on January 9. An inquest has been held into the tragedy
A toddler who was found alongside his father died as a result of dehydration, an inquest has heard.
Two-year-old Bronson Battersby was found laying between his father Kenneth’s legs at their home in Skegness, Lincolnshire, on January 9. The inquest, opened by senior coroner Paul Smith in Lincoln, heard how Bronson went to live with his father after his parents separated in the summer of 2022, while his two siblings lived with his mother.
Detective Inspector Claire Rimmer of Lincolnshire Police told the coroner’s court how police were called by a "concerned" neighbour who hadn’t seen Kenneth for a while and reported a smell coming from the flat. Kenneth’s body was found behind the living room door and Bronson was found snuggled close to him.
The court also heard from coroner’s officer Tracy Cox, who confirmed that Bronson’s post-mortem examination took place at Leicestershire Royal Infirmary on January 11. The report confirmed Bronson died because of dehydration, Lincolnshire Live reports.
Mr Smith adjourned the inquest to a provisional date of December 10, 2024, noting that a "thorough and sensitive investigation" is taking place into the two deaths. The Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership is undertaking an in-depth, independent review of the case, which began in February and is expected to take six months.
At the time, residents in the town said that the news of Bronson’s death had left them struggling to sleep at night, while his mum, Sarah Piesse, said her life had been a "living nightmare" since she was told that her son and former partner had died.
Ms Piesse told The Sun: "His last moments were spent alone and he must have been so thirsty and hungry. He will have been crying. He will have been so confused. And Kenny was there on the floor. I can only pray he thought his dad was asleep."