Tipton couple raising funds to give 'special send off' for their premature baby who died at just 12 days old

A couple from Tipton are raising money after their baby Leo sadly passed away after fighting for his life for 12 days.

Mother Sophie Roberts said that she was told by the hospital when she was 22+5 weeks that Leo was supposed to be born and that he wouldn't make it.

She was told that if he was born the hospital would “hand him over to us to let him pass away and if he had a disability that we should just let him go.”

Ms Roberts said that Leo was born at 23+3 weeks at Royal Oldham Hospital on 20 May. However, after 12 days she received a call from NICU and rushed over because “something had happened to Leo”.

She said: “He was doing really well and fought with everything he had.

“All of sudden after not even half an hour after seeing him we got a call from NICU to rush over because something had happened to Leo. He got resuscitated for about 40 minutes before he lost his battle and passed away at 12 days old.”

Ms Roberts and father Callum Summers have now launched a GoFundMe to raise funds to ensure Leo has “the best, most special send off that he deserves.”

The fundraiser has a target of £5,000 and as of today (Friday 5 June) £1,380 has been raised.

A charity tag rugby men’s mental health event has been organised in the memory of Leo.

The event, run by charity AndysManClub, is taking place on 16 August at Wigan St Patricks Amateur Rugby League Club.

The charity event is called ‘Brother Vs Brother for the Leo Joseph Summers Memorial Trophy’.

A flyer for the event reads: “Our main event is dedicated to the memory of our young warrior Leo Joseph Summers. Together we fight. Together we win.

“Playing for more than victory. Playing for Leo”.