'I was at his birth and at his death': Grandmother of tragic Walsall five-year-old speaks at inquest into his death

Sara Marple spoke at the Black Country Coroners Court in Oldbury, talking of her devastation at her grandson's death, at Birmingham Children's Hospital on January 3, 2023.

Joshua was being cared for by foster parents over the Christmas period before his grandmother Sara Marple and mother Gemma Alcock and raised 'grave concerns' over his health and well being after a series of family visits in which his 'eyes were sunken and his skin 'thin and gaunt.'

He was taken to Walsall Manor Hospital on Christmas day before later being transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital where he was said to have a bleed on the brain and died three days later.

The inquest heard his mother Gemma was a cocaine user and that Joshua was autistic and non verbal and had complex developmental and emotional needs. but for the early years of his life the family had coped with his care between them

Mrs Marple told the inquest - chaired by coroner  Zafar Siddique - that she worked in the NHS at Cannock Hospital and often did night shifts but would 'drop everything' if she was needed to look after or take Joshua and his brother Jake out.

She said: "I saw him every week but I was always at the end of the telephone when needed for whatever reason, whether that was to have him stay or to take him out somewhere or do the shopping for Gemma.

"Gemma was getting the help that was needed with her issues and coping well considering the needs as well of of Joshua, whose diet wasn't great due to his condition and who was non verbal due to autism.

"As a family we were in touch with social services but whilst I don't blame them for what unfolded, I do feel there could have been more interaction before it and that the whole fostering process was a bit rushed/

"They asked me if I was helping and I was - I would drop everything for Joshua but I was working 12 hour shifts at a hospital, had just brought a new house with my husband and was limited to what I could do in terms of caring for him full time.

"At no time during the process of instigating Joshua going into foster care was the possibility of him coming to us mentioned in terms of finance, adapting the home or making it a formal arrangement, they just seemed happy that he had a direct relative to help him and Gemma."

She became emotional as she described a telephone call from Gemma on December 25 who said: "Joshua looks like he is dying."

She said: "When he came up the path to visit Gemma he stumbled and fell and when I got there he didn't even look like my grandson - his face was sunken he was black around his eyes and he looked under weight.

"He hugged Gemma and didn't want to let go - it was heart breaking and a few days later he was dead. I was Gemma's birthing partner so I saw him born and saw him die - we all miss him so much every day."

The inquest continues.