A vulnerable two-year-old English boy died of starvation while curled up next to the body of his father who had died of a heart attack.
The body of little Bronson Battersby was found on January 9 next to his 60-year-old father Kenneth at Skegness in Lincolnshire.
The pair had last been seen 14 days before.
The Guardian reports a social worker had visited the home on January 2, after contacting Kenneth on December 27. There was no reply, and after making some inquiries nearby, the social worker called police.
Two days later the social worker returned to the home and called police when there was no response. The social worker found the bodies of the pair after getting a key from the landlord days later.
Bronson had been classed as vulnerable and was subject to checks at least once a month by children's services.
Sarah Piesse, Bronson's mother, said the post-mortem showed her boy had died of dehydration and starvation.
"I couldn't pick him up because his body was too fragile," she told The Sun. "I could only touch him. He had been left there too long."
Heather Sandy, the executive director for Lincolnshire children's services, said: "This was a tragic incident, and we are supporting the family at this difficult time. We are 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."
A family friend told The Sun: "It breaks my heart. Bronson deserved so, so much better. He was such a loving, adorable little boy. They found him curled up at Kenneth's legs. He was left in the dark and must have been terrified and so confused."
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