Boy, 12, and granddad found dead inside tent on family camping trip
Tributes have been paid to a 12-year-old boy who was found dead alongside his grandad during a camping trip in the countryside.
Kaicy Brown, 12, and grandfather David Brown, 66, died in a suspected accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, thought to have been caused by a cooking stove.
They were found unresponsive by one of Kaicy’s uncles who had been sleeping in a tent nearby the following morning on September 14.
The family had travelled 200 miles from Earley in Berkshire to the campsite in Powys, Wales, for the family weekend stay before the tragic incident occurred.
Senior coroner Graeme Hughes told an inquest into the deaths in Pontypridd that a toxicology test would look for carbon monoxide levels in Kaicy’s blood.
He told heartbroken relatives attending the hearing: ‘My deepest condolences to all of you for the loss of both Kaicy and David in such tragic circumstances.’
The coroners’ court was told an investigation was also being carried out into the death of Kaicy’s grandfather David who lived in Wokingham, Berkshire.
The hearing was adjourned to a later date.
A fundraising page has been set up to raise money for Kaicy’s mum Jessica who lost both her son and her father in the tragedy.
It said: ‘On September 15 the unimaginable happened to her son Kaicy, 12, and her father. They passed away from carbon monoxide poisoning on a camping trip.
‘The money raised will go towards funeral costs, a memorial and legal fees as Jess wants to bring her boy home, as there is disputes within the family about where he will be laid to rest. We don’t want her to go through anymore headache at this sad time.
‘Any donations would be greatly appreciated to help relieve the financial burden of this tragic accident, also to help many families in need.’
A second GoFundMe page to support David’s widow, Mandy, has also been set up by Sonning Church of England Primary School, where Kaicy had attended before starting secondary school.
The school said the community was ‘coming together to show our love’ for the bereaved family in a Facbook post.
It went on: ‘This is a desperately sad situation, not least of all because Kaicy was only 12 years old.’
The youngster was remembered as ‘a true ambassador for the school’ and ‘a kind, thoughtful and emotionally-aware boy who lit up a room with his smile and good sense of humour’.
It added: ‘He was also an exceptionally talented artist and impressed us with his attention to detail and incredible commitment to his artwork.
‘Many of his pieces are still hung proudly around the school.
‘Memories of Kaicy’s fantastic starring role as Mrs Wolf, in the Year 6 production in July 2023, will always make us smile.
‘His fashion show performance at our Year 6 residential was also thoroughly entertaining, combining his acting skills and sense of humour to put on a hilarious display for his peers and staff.
‘A gentle soul, Kaicy made friends easily and was loved by his classmates and adults alike for his easy-going nature and support for others. Kaicy always upheld our Sonning values and was a true ambassador for the school.
‘Kaicy was one of those pupils who had such a bright future ahead of him and someone we always felt would achieve great things in his life – a thought which makes this situation even harder as we remember someone so special.’
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