The cause of death for the tragic passing of two-year-old Bronson Battersby, who was found next to his deceased father, has been revealed.
The heartbreaking incident occurred in Skegness, UK, earlier this year.
Two-year-old Bronson Battersby was found dead next to his father, 60-year-old Kenneth Battersby, who had succumbed to a fatal heart attack.
The tragic discovery has prompted Lincolnshire County Council to launch a review into the circumstances surrounding Bronson's death.
According to The Guardian, the toddler, classified as vulnerable, was under the care of children's services and received regular monthly checks.
Sky News reported a timeline of events leading up to the discovery, noting that the father and son were last seen together on Christmas Day.
Bronson's mother, Sarah Piesse, told The Sun that the pair had enjoyed "a big Christmas dinner together," opting for chicken instead of turkey because "Bronson liked chicken."
The last known communication from Battersby was before New Year's Eve. On January 2, a social worker's scheduled visit went unanswered.
After checking other locations for Bronson, the social worker contacted the police.
Detective Inspector Claire Rimmer of Lincolnshire Police testified that the police were alerted by a concerned neighbor who reported not having seen Kenneth for some time and noted a foul smell emanating from the flat.
Upon entering the home, police discovered Kenneth's body behind the living room door, with Bronson nestled close to him.
Piesse shared her anguish with The Sun, recalling her frantic search for her son: "My first question was, 'Where the hell is my boy then? Who has my boy?' I got down there as fast as I could. I was there in 10 minutes flat. I ran down the road screaming Bronson's name.
"I screamed for him, knowing he'd need me. I was scared about what he might have seen with his dad passing away. But the police put me in the back of an ambulance at the scene. They told me a two-year-old boy was found at the scene and they were doing a post-mortem. My whole world fell apart. I was screaming, 'How? How?'"
Coroner's officer Tracy Cox confirmed that Bronson's post-mortem examination took place at Leicestershire Royal Infirmary on January 11. The report, cited by Lincolnshire Live, confirmed that Bronson's death was due to dehydration.
The local community has been deeply affected by the tragic news. Residents have reported struggling to sleep at night, while Bronson's mother, Sarah Piesse, described her life as a "living nightmare" since learning of the deaths of her son and former partner.
Piesse shared her anguish with The Sun, saying: "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."
Our thoughts remain with Bronson and Kenneth's loved ones during this difficult time.