From the hearing, it is “probably” possible that the young child would still be alive if the father had not died

It is “likely” that a two-year-old boy whose body was found in his home might still be alive if his father had not died, an inquest hearing heard.

Bronson Battersby was found between the legs of his late father, Kenneth Battersby, also known as Kenny, on January 9 at their home in Skegness, Lincolnshire.

Coroner Jayne Wilkes told a rehearing before an inquest at the Greater Lincolnshire Coroner’s Court on Thursday that circumstances suggested Bronson had predeceased his 60-year-old father.

She said: “There must be a possibility that if Kenny had not died, Bronson would still be alive.

“We may never have enough information about either Kenny or Bronson’s death, and Kenny’s death is undoubtedly important as a complementary or overlapping element that we also need to investigate.”

Bronson lived with his father, who had separated from the boy’s mother, in a basement apartment on Prince Alfred Avenue.

In June, an investigation was launched and a neighbor called the police to report that she had not seen Mr Battersby for several days and there was a smell coming from the apartment.

The coroner told the hearing that Battersby’s cause of death was a “sudden cardiac event” caused by heart disease.

Ms Wilkes said a post-mortem examination of the little boy “showed low levels of body fat and muscle” and he appeared malnourished. The cause of death was given as dehydration.

Mrs Wilkes stated there was a “limited amount of food in the fridge” and other food items in the freezer were “obviously of no use to Bronson”.

A council spokesman said in a statement issued after the death that a social worker contacted Mr Battersby on December 27 and arranged an appointment for him on January 2, but when they arrived at the door they received no response.

The coroner said the selfie taken by Bronson on Dec. 31 and Battersby’s financial statements are among the most important information needed to establish a timeline of deaths.

The court was also told that on the evening of December 31, a witness heard Battersby shouting at his son.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) conducted an investigation into Lincolnshire Police’s involvement before the death, but in September said there was no indication that any officer or staff member had breached professional standards.

Ms Wilkes told Bronson’s half-sister Melanie Battersby, who attended the hearing virtually: ‘This must be extremely difficult for you. I offer my sincere condolences for the loss of this little boy in such tragic circumstances.”

She ended the hearing by saying a full inquest into the death was unlikely to take place until early next fall.