A ten-year-old schoolboy who died while playing in his bedroom accidentally hanged himself in a ‘Superman pose’, an inquest has heard.
Issac Lyons, Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, had been so excited about a family trip to Alton Towers that, unable to sleep, he got out of bed to dress up as a Roman, before slipping and dying instantly, his family said.
Today a hearing at Nottingham Council House confirmed that cause of death on August 12 as accidental hanging.
Detective inspector Samantha Austin, who investigated the tragedy at Issac’s home, told the hearing: ‘His arms were forward as if in a bit of a Superman type position.
A hearing at Nottingham Council House today confirmed that ten-year-old Issac Lyons, Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, died by accidental hanging on August 12
‘He used to play make believe and was wearing an Egyptian costume. The family had recently been on holiday and he was very interested in the Romans. He may have been imagining he was a Roman. That is one hypothesis.’
The detective continued that the young boy, whose funeral took place on September 21, had been ‘absolutely over the moon’ about his visit to Alton Towers the next day.
The officer said: ‘He was absolutely over the moon about going to Alton Towers, extremely excited.’
Issac, who has been described as ‘a kind, funny, and passionate’ youngster, with ‘an extraordinary imagination’, died in the bedroom of his home on August 12.
He was found by his father Mike, 45, a former soldier and trained first aider who gave CPR but could not revive him.
The St John’s C of E Primary School student was obsessed with movies, especially Marvel films, and had written his own superhero stories.
He was also ‘deeply caring of others’, wanting to donate his own toys to charities he saw advertised on the television.
In a statement read at the inquest, Mr Lyons described Issac as being ‘in a flying position’ when found in the bedroom at around 7.15am. He said that he was ‘a very happy child.’
Issac had been excited about a family trip to Alton Towers and had out of bed to dress up as a Roman, before slipping and dying instantly, his family said
His mother Claire, 43, and father Mike, 45, said he has left a huge hole in their hearts. Above: Isaac (top right) with his parents and siblings
Assistant Coroner Dr Elizabeth Didcock conclusion was accidental death. The cause of death was hanging.
The inspector told her: ‘It became clear very quickly this was an utterly tragic case as opposed to anything more sinister. He was very well looked after, a very well cared for child.’
The coroner said: ‘There is no suspicion, no third party involvement. I wholeheartedly rule that out.’
Issac’s parents did not attend the hearing but earlier paid tribute, saying that he was ‘deeply caring of others’ and wanted to give his toys to children’s charities.
His mother Claire Lyons, 43, said: ‘He had the most extraordinary imagination. He would write stories and create super heroes. He absolutely loved movies.
‘If an advert for Unicef came on he would be in floods of tears and wanted us to give them money or he would go find a toy he could donate.’
Mr Lyons added: ‘He was very thoughtful and kind.’
Mr Lyons, pictured above with Isaac, said his son was their ‘superhero’ and was ‘everything to us’
‘He was playing, having fun, and then it stopped. He was our superhero. It was an awful loss and a waste of a wonderful young man.’
Issac was the oldest of four, followed by sisters, Grace, aged nine, Florence, five, and Merry, three.
He was a ‘rainbow baby’ a phrase coined for a healthy baby born after a previous miscarriage.
The family had just got home from a holiday in Cumbria when the tragedy happened.
They had visited Hadrian’s Wall, where Issac had become fascinated with Romans history.
On Monday, August 12, they had planned to visit Alton Towers and the children had been excited about the roller coasters they were going to ride.
The couple put the children to bed at around 7.30pm – the next morning they found their son dead in his bedroom.
Mrs Lyons had previously said: ‘What we think happened is he could not sleep because he was so excited. He had got up, taken off his pajamas, and dressed up as a Roman.
‘It was an accident, he slipped while playing. He died instantly. How does your child die in his own bedroom and we did not know?
‘I don’t think I will ever come to terms with this. I thought I would hear a shout. It was tragic and sudden.’
She added: ‘Issac is everywhere. He is on drawings, on every piece of paper, it is a constant machine gun in your head. He was such a good kid.’
Mr Lyons said: ‘He was playing, having fun, and then it stopped. In time that will help but now it does not. It will be a comfort that he did not suffer.
‘He was our superhero. He was everything to us. It was an awful loss and a waste of a wonderful young man.’
The family had previously said they could not believe the amount of support they have received from the local community.
The incident happened two days before their daughter, Grace’s, ninth birthday.
‘She had three cakes,’ Mrs Lyons said. ‘We feel very cared for.
‘We have been overwhelmed by the kindness by people who know us and people we have never met. I have been moved by the little things that people have said about Issac.’
A Justgiving page has also been set up to support the family and the money will be used for a memorial plot to commemorate the life of their ‘beautiful boy’ and to help the family as they struggle to come to terms with what has happened.