Today’s Utterly Heartbreaking News Story :(

Today’s Utterly Heartbreaking News Story :(

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Southerner

Original Poster:

1,755 posts

59 months

Wednesday 17th January
quotequote all
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire...

Two year old lad dies from starvation after his dad dies from a heart attack. Utterly tragic, poor little fella. Seems to be something equally horrible or devastating every day these days. Sigh.

heisthegaffer

3,649 posts

205 months

Wednesday 17th January
quotequote all
So sad. Must have been a terrible way to die poor little sod.

BrettMRC

4,486 posts

167 months

Wednesday 17th January
quotequote all
That is awful, what a way to go.


budgie smuggler

5,540 posts

166 months

Wednesday 17th January
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I wish I hadn't read that. Poor kid.

Triumph Man

8,886 posts

175 months

Wednesday 17th January
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Horrible story - he must have been so scared and confused as to what was going on frown

Earl of Hazzard

3,630 posts

165 months

Wednesday 17th January
quotequote all
budgie smuggler said:
I wish I hadn't read that. Poor kid.
Same. Absolutely tragic.

Gareth79

8,041 posts

253 months

Wednesday 17th January
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The boy's mother seems to be entirely blaming social services. Apparently she and the father "rowed" before Christmas and there's no mention that she tried to see her son or even contact him until hearing of their deaths, after social services gained entry.

Another article mentions that the father texted a neighbour on the 27th to thank them for visiting: 'Thanks so much for caring, it means the world to me and Bronson.' and there are lots of good things said about him by others. Obviously social services were involved though, so there was some concern. edit: the guy has some tattoos, I don't know enough to tell what they are but they do look "interesting" though. edit 2: Apparently Kenneth was "severely jaundiced" from a heart condition, so that would have been enough for concern, however his mother should have had greater concern.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12972759/...

Social services contacted the police each time so presumably they expected some sort of assistance - I guess there will be a review into what might have been expected in a similar situation.


Edited by Gareth79 on Wednesday 17th January 17:18

PlywoodPascal

5,401 posts

28 months

Wednesday 17th January
quotequote all
I read this and found myself weeping uncontrollably in response.

It is terribly sad, I cannot begin to imagine what the little boy went through. Or rather, I can begin to imagine it, and it breaks my heart. (I hate that cheesy phrase, but it's accurate here).

I am sad this is possible in our society today. Reading the report it even sounds like there were opportunities missed to take action earlier than it eventually was taken.

I think this the first time I have cried at a new story that I can remember, actually.

MBVitoria

2,505 posts

230 months

Wednesday 17th January
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Triumph Man said:
Horrible story - he must have been so scared and confused as to what was going on frown
Absolutely what a tragic story, poor little lad. Welling up thinking about what he went through.

T1547

1,149 posts

141 months

Wednesday 17th January
quotequote all
Brought a tear to my eye too (read it last night). Gave my 2 year old little lad an extra big hug this morning.

Gecko1978

10,470 posts

164 months

Wednesday 17th January
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The mother seems to feel everyone else is responsible for her child. If over Xmas toy didn't speak to your kid at easter every other day if you were seperated would you not worry

Southerner

Original Poster:

1,755 posts

59 months

Wednesday 17th January
quotequote all
Gecko1978 said:
The mother seems to feel everyone else is responsible for her child. If over Xmas toy didn't speak to your kid at easter every other day if you were seperated would you not worry
Possibly some spellcheck action there Gecko; but yes very definitely. But then of course there are the broad range of conventional “normal” situations, and then there are those which fall outside of that. Probably a lot more in the latter camp than the rest of us might imagine, I would think.

Legacywr

12,800 posts

195 months

Wednesday 17th January
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frown

mattyn1

6,095 posts

162 months

Wednesday 17th January
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Earl of Hazzard said:
budgie smuggler said:
I wish I hadn't read that. Poor kid.
Same. Absolutely tragic.
Absolutely. Some questions to be answered it seems.

Just watched it on the news, not often news stories grasp my attention like that. Shockingly sad.
Also, remarkable how newsreaders could hold it together telling to story, not sure I could have!

gregs656

11,410 posts

188 months

Wednesday 17th January
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Christ. What a horrifying and tragic thing to happen.

mac96

4,436 posts

150 months

Wednesday 17th January
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Terrible thing to happen.

I don't really blame the Mother for lashing out, especially as that is what the DM would have looked for and probably encouraged, assuming they didn't just make up her quotes . She must feel very guilty. Not saying she necessarily should, but it is just natural.

Nevertheless I wouldn't jump to blame the authorities. As I understand it the boy was not in a seriously 'at risk' category so there was no reason to suppose he had come to harm, and people are often out when a social worker calls.

Carl_VivaEspana

13,186 posts

269 months

Wednesday 17th January
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It made me very emotional when I read the story this morning. Regardless of the circumstances and blame I cant imagine what the child's family are going through.

don't read this story if you are having a bad moment yourself, read it another day, it's one of the worst things you'll read all year.

dalzo

1,877 posts

143 months

Wednesday 17th January
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Horrendous reading, got a 2 year old myself so can’t even imagine the fear the little one went through.

Gecko1978

10,470 posts

164 months

Wednesday 17th January
quotequote all
Southerner said:
Gecko1978 said:
The mother seems to feel everyone else is responsible for her child. If over Xmas toy didn't speak to your kid at easter every other day if you were seperated would you not worry
Possibly some spellcheck action there Gecko; but yes very definitely. But then of course there are the broad range of conventional “normal” situations, and then there are those which fall outside of that. Probably a lot more in the latter camp than the rest of us might imagine, I would think.
Yeah I speak to my kids daily when they are away or when I am working away etc. So it does not occur to me that I would not know they were safe for more than say 48hrs when they went to NZ with there mother (long flight etc).

But it's not the mothers fault but the DM quote implied she was asking why Social services had not checked on them.....well I don't know why she didn't either.

rambo19

2,812 posts

144 months

Wednesday 17th January
quotequote all
Lessons will be learned ..........