Covid: parents pay tribute to ‘funny and cheeky’ son, 8, who died three days after testing positive for Covid

The devastated parents of an eight-year-old boy have paid tribute to him after he died three days after testing positive for Covid-19.

Jasper Bryan Cook came home from school feeling unwell, but within days he had died after his health deteriorated and he experienced breathing difficulties.

His mum Kim, 39, said there were "no warning signs" that the fit and healthy boy would pass away so soon after catching the viral disease.

And while they wait for a coroner’s report, Kim and husband Ian still don’t know what caused their son’s death, which has left a “gaping” hole in their lives.

Kim said: "There were literally no warning signs. There were no signs this could happen, or was going to happen, or was expected or anything.

"It’s taken the legs out from under us."

‘He was funny, cheeky, all he wanted was cuddles’

Jasper came home from school on January 17 feeling unwell and tested positive for Covid the next day.

Kim, from Birkenshaw, West Yorkshire, said the normally healthy child was ‘a little sick’ in the days that followed.

But on January 21, she contacted the emergency services when Jasper’s condition suddenly took a turn for the worse and he was unable to breath.

He was rushed to Bradford Royal Infirmary, but tragically passed away later that same day.

The parents hope a coroner’s report will provide answers as to why their little boy died so suddenly.

Kim said about her son: "He was funny, cheeky, all he wanted was cuddles. He loved snuggles. He was a Lego fanatic.

"He was a big supporter of Formula 1 and Lewis Hamilton, we spent lots of time snuggled on the sofa watching F1 and also Watford FC due to Granpa being a lifelong supporter."

"Everybody said his smile lit up the room. He was gorgeous. It’s devastating.

"We would not wish this on our worst enemy, on anybody, it’s like a living nightmare.

"It should not happen to an eight-year-old."

‘Words just can’t really express the loss that we are feeling’

Jasper’s dad Ian, 40, said: "It took a long time to accept that it had happened, and he was not coming home.

"There’s a huge Jasper-shaped hole, it’s never going to be filled.

"Words just can’t really express the loss that we are feeling."

School plans to develop a well-being garden in memory of Jasper

His school plans to develop a well-being garden in memory of Jasper, which will be named after him.

A spokesperson for the school said: "This will be a place for reflection and contemplation and will be a lasting legacy to such an amazing young man".

Kim and Ian hope to raise money to fund the permanent memorial and to donate to relevant charities once they know more about what caused their son’s death.

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