Mum's horror after finding son, 11, dead in his bed while trying to wake him for school

Liam Shepherd, 11, died mysteriously in his sleep and the cause of his death is still unknown
Liam mysteriously died in his sleep at the family home in Weston-super-Mare (Photo: GoFundMe)Liam mysteriously died in his sleep at the family home in Weston-super-Mare (Photo: GoFundMe)
Liam mysteriously died in his sleep at the family home in Weston-super-Mare (Photo: GoFundMe)

A grief-stricken mum has spoken of the horror after finding her 11-year-old son dead in his bed while trying to wake him up for school.

Kimberley Shepherd’s only child, Liam, mysteriously died in his sleep at the family home in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, on 23 March, and his cause of death is still unknown.

‘The pain is unbearable’

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Ms Shepherd said her son Liam was the reason she woke up everyday and without him in her life, she has “nothing else to look forward to”.

The single mum explained she is struggling to think of a life without him and described the pain of her loss as “unbearable”.

Speaking to SomersetLive, she said: “He is the love of my life, my soul mate, there was just the two of us since he was born and I raised him alone, I have nothing else to look forward to and I do not know how I will face the big milestones without him.

"He had so many friends and family who love and care for him, he was so popular and this all seems so unfair to an 11-year-old boy.

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"The response has been overwhelming and humbling however it does not bring him back.

"Life moves on for everyone but for me it never will go, the pain is unbearable to lose the closest thing to me.

"Liam just passed away in his sleep and the reason is still unknown, I found him like that after waking him up for school."

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‘He changed my life’

Ms Shepherd described her son as “caring” and “thoughtful” and said he aspired to become a policeman, as he loved helping others.

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Just last year, Liam ran a marathon in a week to help support the NSPCC, and was often busy trying to support other people.

He bought food to donate to the vulnerable, baked cakes for the NHS, police and his teachers, and was holding a raffle to raise money for Winston's Wish just before he died.

Ms Shepherd said: “Liam was the most caring, loving, sporty, kind, thoughtful, handsome boy I have ever known, he would not hurt a fly.

"He changed my life and he was the reason I woke up everyday.

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"He wanted to be a policeman and loved helping others, I am and always will be proud of him.”

Raising funds

Events are now being planned in Weston to pay tribute to the 11-year-old, with locals putting up gold ribbons and badges around the town in his memory.

Weston-super-Mare Rugby Football Club is naming a stadium after him and football clubs are donating signed shirts to raise money for children who cannot afford academy football.

Ms Shepherd added: "I want his face and name everywhere, forever."

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A GoFundMe page has been set up following his death to help cover the cost of funeral expenses and support his mother, with more than £19,000 already raised.

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