A GRIEVING grandmother says her family have been left “with no answers” after the death of a baby who was found unresponsive in a water trough while in foster care.

One-year-old Thomas Alan Branchflower was found in the garden of his foster home in Williton, Somerset.

He was rushed to Bristol Children’s Hospital’s intensive care unit where he passed away five days later.

An inquest has been opened into his death.

Sheridan Farrow, Thomas’s grandmother, was contacted by the Somerset Local Democracy Reporting Service and confirmed he had been living with foster carers at the time of his death.

She said he was “happy and healthy” despite having a genetic condition which delayed his physical development – claiming that at the time of his death he was not yet able to walk.

She added that he was “very much loved and adored by both his parents”.

On July 27, she said she was contacted by the family’s social worker and informed that he had “had an accident” and was on life support in Bristol.

She said: “She advised me he was found unresponsive in a metal trough of water.”

Ms Farrow, from Highbridge, was informed a full investigation would be carried out but the outcome would be passed onto the coroner, rather than the family.

She was also advised that there would be “no further police involvement” beyond their initial investigation.

She said: “My daughter and son-in-law travelled to be at his bedside, and following court hearings, the hospital obtained permission to end life support – something that we all agreed with.

“As a family we made the difficult decision to allow organ donation and Thomas helped two other children have a chance for life.

“Sadly we are a grieving family with no answers. The lack of transparency is extremely disempowering and all we were left with was the right to lay Thomas to rest.”

Somerset coroner Tony Williams confirmed that Thomas was pronounced dead on August 1 and that an inquest had been opened on the same date.

He has recorded a preliminary cause of death as “hypoxic ischaemic brain injury secondary to drowning”.

He added: ”I can confirm that on July 27, 2020, Thomas had been found unresponsive in a water trough in Williton.

“Investigations are ongoing with regard to the circumstances of Thomas’s death and a full inquest hearing will be required in due course.”

Somerset County Council, which is responsible for children’s services, said it was unable to comment in detail until the inquest had concluded.

A spokesman said: “This is clearly a very tragic situation and we have offered our support to all those affected.”