‘His chest wasn’t moving, I felt his forehead – he was cold’: Father relives shattering moment he woke to find his ‘happy and healthy’ baby boy dead beside him in bed – and his frantic fight to save him
- Four-month-old Bronlee was a happy and healthy baby before he suddenly died
- His father Jayden Ward awoke to find him dead in bed next to him on Saturday
- He called triple zero and tried to resuscitate Bronlee for ‘what felt like a lifetime’
- A preliminary coroner’s report found Bronlee’s cause of death is inconclusive
- Jayden and his wife Dee-Jay are warning other parents of newborns about SIDS
A grieving father has relived the unimaginable moment he woke to find his four-month-old son dead beside him in bed.
Little Bronlee died on Saturday from what’s believed to be Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, devastating his parents Dee-Jay and Jayden Ward.
The ‘happy and healthy’ baby was sleeping in Mr Ward’s bed with him on Friday night, while Mrs Ward was in hospital having surgery.
Mr Ward’s world came crashing down on Saturday morning, when he woke beside his son’s lifeless body.
‘That morning I woke up as usual, opened my eyes, looked at him and saw his chest wasn’t moving,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
Adelaide couple Dee-Jay Ward and Jayden Ward’s son Bronlee died on Saturday from what’s believed to be Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Mrs Ward told Daily Mail Australia that Bronlee was a happy and healthy four-month-old baby
‘I don’t think it quite clicked at that point. But I then felt his forehead and it was cold. I picked him up and he wasn’t responding – I screamed ”bubba” three times.’
Mr Ward frantically ran to his mother-in-law’s room to get help, before calling an ambulance who ran him through the steps for performing CPR.
‘I tried to resuscitate him for about two minutes which happened to feel like a lifetime.’
Sadly, Bronlee couldn’t be saved.
The heartbroken parents still aren’t sure exactly what caused Bronlee’s death, as the Coroner’s report found the reason for his death inconclusive
Mr Ward said he tried to resuscitate Bronlee for ‘what felt like a lifetime’ while waiting for an ambulance to arrive
Mrs Ward told Daily Mail Australia Bronlee showed no signs of ill-health.
‘He was extremely happy as well, the first thing he did every morning was smile and the last thing before bed he was laughing and smiling,’ she said.
Mrs Ward said she received the devastating news while she was still in hospital.
‘I just walked into the room and saw my mum and Jayden crying and my first thought was ”where’s Bronlee, what’s wrong?” But I still didn’t think he was gone,’ she said.
‘But when they told me the words ”I’m sorry” I just knew. I dropped to the floor and kept saying ”no, no, no” repeatedly.’
Mrs Ward immediately packed up her things and left hospital as fast as she could.
Mrs Ward said the devastating news of Bronlee’s death was broken to her while she was still in hospital
‘It was the worst day of my life. And I want no never go through the and we want no one else to go through that as well,’ she said.
The heartbroken parents still aren’t sure exactly what caused Bronlee’s death, as the Coroner’s report found the reason for his death inconclusive.
The couple is now hoping to raise awareness for SIDS.
‘If we can raise enough awareness to even just help prevent one family from going through what we’re going through right now… that would be amazing,’ Mr Ward said.
The couple is urging parents of newborns to do their research to reduce the chances of the same tragedy happening to them.
Mrs Ward said Bronlee was an extremely happy baby who constantly smiled
Jayden and Dee-Jay are now urging parents of newborns to do their research to reduce the chances of the same tragedy happening to them
‘Please if you’re a parent, no matter their age. Hold your child close. Give them the biggest kiss and cuddle you can. You never know when it may be your last,’ Mr Ward wrote on Facebook.
The couple’s families will take part in the K’s For Kids 34km walk from Salisbury to Glenelg, with all donations going towards the Sids Foundation and Kids South Australia foundation.
Friends of Mr and Mrs Ward have set up a Go Fund Me to help pay for the family’s bills while they take time to grieve.
The exact number of babies who have died from SIDS is unknown, but it’s estimated to claim the lives of between 130 and 150 babies each year in Australia.