Janice R. Andrews
In a heartbreaking turn of events, Bronson Battersby, then two years old, was found dead in their Skegness, Lincolnshire, house next to his father, Kenneth. The community is inconsolable and has begun to doubt the actions of social services in light of the horrific disclosure.
It is thought that Kenneth Battersby, 60, passed away after a heart attack no earlier than December 29. Battersby had been battling a serious cardiac disease that resulted in jaundice. Because of Bronson’s vulnerability, a social worker was performing one of the weekly visits when she discovered a graphic scene on January 9.
When the social worker did not receive a response after reaching out to the family on January 2 and 4, she called the police. After getting a key from the landlord and entering the house five days later, she saw the toddler curled up next to his father’s lifeless body.
In heartbreaking video from a prior party, Bronson was pictured happily celebrating his first birthday with a Teletubbies cake and his loved ones in attendance. Now in mourning, his mother Sarah Piesse accused social services of not doing enough to keep her son safe. Piesse claims that Bronson might still be alive if they had carried out their obligations.
After a fight with her former boyfriend, Piesse and her son had their last communication just before Christmas. On Boxing Day, the father and son were last seen, and the next day, Kenneth sent a thank-you text.
Carbon monoxide poisoning was ruled out of the cause of Bronson’s death, which was determined by the first post-mortem study to be hunger and dehydration. During Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer voiced his sadness, describing the toddler’s death as “heartbreaking.”
Lincolnshire Police has forwarded the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for evaluation while investigations continue. The social worker in question has chosen voluntary time off rather than being suspended.
Matt Warman, a Conservative MP, underlined the necessity of addressing systemic shortcomings and called for a team effort to avert such deaths. Although the police confirm that the deaths are not being investigated as suspicious, Lincolnshire County Council has begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Bronson’s death.
The executive director of children’s services, Heather Sandy, said, “We are supporting the family during this difficult time. This was a tragic incident.” The devastating incident has left the community reeling, and calls have been made for a thorough investigation into the mistakes that went wrong and resulted in this unimaginable tragedy.
