Tragedy strikes as two-year-old Bronson Battersby dies after father's heart attack
- Bronson Battersby, aged 2, was found deceased alongside his father Kenneth Battersby, who died from a heart attack over Christmas.
- Post-mortem examinations revealed Bronson suffered from dehydration and malnutrition, and there was limited food in their home.
- The coroner indicated that had Kenneth survived, there was a strong likelihood Bronson would still be alive, highlighting the critical circumstances surrounding their deaths.
In January 2024, a tragic incident occurred in Skegness, Lincolnshire, when two-year-old Bronson Battersby was found deceased in his home. He was discovered between the legs of his dead father, Kenneth Battersby, who had succumbed to a fatal heart attack during the Christmas holidays. The situation that led to the deaths has prompted a thorough investigation. Coroner Jayne Wilkes stated during a pre-inquest hearing that there is a strong likelihood Bronson would be alive if his father had survived, as circumstances suggest that Bronson's death occurred after his father's. Evidence indicates that while Kenneth had died due to a sudden cardiac event, Bronson's cause of death was attributed to dehydration and malnutrition, exacerbated by the lack of adequate food in their home during the period following Kenneth's death. Kenneth Battersby, aged 60, had been living in a basement flat with his son after separating from Bronson's mother. Neighbors reported concerns to the police after not seeing Kenneth for several days and noticing a foul smell emanating from the flat. The police discovered the tragic situation on January 9, 2024, and subsequent investigations indicated that Bronson had been seen by social workers regularly prior to his father's death. A council spokesperson revealed that a social worker had attempted to visit the family shortly after Christmas but received no response. The coroner elaborated on the condition of both Kenneth and Bronson. While Kenneth's death was directly linked to underlying heart disease and classified as a sudden cardiac event, Bronson was reportedly malnourished, showing signs of low body fat and muscle, and the fridge contained limited food options. The coroner emphasized the importance of determining a timeline of events, including the two recent selfies taken by Bronson on December 31, 2023, and Kenneth’s financial accounts, to help ascertain when each individual passed away. Despite the tragic outcomes, an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) concluded that Lincolnshire Police did not breach professional standards in their handling of the situation leading up to the deaths. Still, the full inquest into Bronson's death is set to take place in the upcoming months, likely not before early autumn 2025, as further details surrounding the circumstances of their deaths and the involvement of social services continue to be thoroughly examined.