A NINE-year-old boy accidentally hanged himself while playing in his bedroom – just weeks before his tenth birthday.
Today, after an inquest ruled he died as a result of an accident, the family of "lively and bubbly" Connar Kiedyk have paid tribute to the youngster, who "never showed any fear".
Connar was found hanging from his bunk bed by a dressing gown cord by his 12-year-old sister, Skye Kiedyk, on June 27, last year at their family home in Legsby Avenue, Grimsby, in what is believed to have been a playful experiment which went tragically wrong.
The tragic incident happened on the same day as he was pictured with the Olympic torch at school – which he had been looking forward to.
The inquest, at Cleethorpes Town Hall, heard the Welholme Community Primary School pupil had been teased by fellow students about his upcoming fancy dress birthday party on the day he died, but ruled he was not a victim of bullying.
His loving mother, Ursula Kiedyk, said: "Some of the children at school said that his birthday party was not going to be very good.
"The teacher did speak to the class about this but Connar came home and said that people were picking on him.
"He said it in such a matter of fact way.
"Connar is more likely to have instigated bullying instead of being bullied himself.
"Later I asked him to tidy his room, because you were unable to see the carpet.
"We heard moving around and when we asked what he was doing, he said playing cowboys and Indians.
"He came down and said he was finished but when I asked if it was to my standard he said he would go and check. This was just before 5pm.
"He went singing and dancing up the stairs, practising for his party.
"Shortly after this I asked my daughter to go up and get him and she rushed down with tears in her eyes saying that he had done something stupid."
Mrs Kiedyk then went upstairs and saw what had happened for herself. She called 999 and performed CPR on him until the ambulance arrived.
Connar was taken to Grimsby's Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital. However, he was declared dead at 5.47pm.
Giving evidence, teacher Carol Wydall added: "We had an Olympic Torch carrier come into school, which several children – including Connar – were looking forward to and asked questions very well.
"He enjoyed PE, which we did that afternoon and, following this, one of the children had said his birthday party was not going to be good.
"I spoke to the children and told them to be mindful of each other and act maturely and kindly towards each other."
District coroner Paul Kelly said: "He was nothing other than a happy nine-year-old boy.
"There was no adverse matter affecting him and his domestic situation.
"A child of his age is unable to form the basic intent of ending his own life.
"He decided to experiment in a way that cost him his life."
