Tributes paid after sudden death of eight-year-old Birkenshaw boy

Jasper Bryan Cook tragically died five weeks ago, leaving his family and those who knew him in the tight-knit community of Birkenshaw heart-broken.

Jasper with his mum and dad and sister Lily

His doting parents have now paid a touching tribute to their beloved son and thanked people for their unwavering support in their darkest hours.

The family’s nightmare unfolded in January when Jasper came home one day from school feeling unwell, before testing positive for Covid the following day.

His mum Kim, 39, said Jasper was a “normal healthy child” and although he had been under the weather, had been a little sick and tested positive for Covid, his death on January 21 came out of the blue.

“There were literally no warning signs,” she said.

Jasper enjoyed horse riding

“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.”

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

Kim and Ian raised the alarm with emergency services when Jasper’s condition suddenly took a turn for the worse on the morning of his death and he was unable to breathe.

The Birkenshaw Primary School pupil was rushed to Bradford Royal Infirmary, but tragically passed away. 

The couple has praised all the emergency services who helped and described the level of care as “outstanding”.

They are now trying to come to terms with their huge loss and currently have no answers as to how their “kind, thoughtful and fun-loving” little boy died.

There has been devastation at Jasper's sudden death

He would have been nine last Friday and the community came together on Saturday to celebrate his life, where a poem and prayers written by his schoolmates were read out.

Kim said: “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.”

She spoke of a story she was told after his death where Jasper went to play with a little girl who had been feeling sad and lonely.

“Everybody said his smile lit up the room. He was gorgeous. It’s devastating,” said Kim.

“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.”

Ian added: “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.”

Kim and Ian said the support from Jasper’s school and headteacher Rebecca Martin, as well as in Birkenshaw village, particularly from The George pub and the Reverend Mike Green, from St Paul’s Church, has been “amazing” through their unimaginable heartache.

His school is to develop an emotional wellbeing garden in memory of Jasper, which will be called Jasper’s Wellbeing Garden.

“This will be a place for reflection and contemplation and will be a lasting legacy to such an amazing young man,” said the school.

Scores of tributes have been left in memory of Jasper and more than £6,000 has been raised which will be donated to charity and used for a permanent memorial to the much-loved little boy.

Louise Massey and her daughter Bella, who also attends Birkenshaw Primary School, are creating wax melts to raise money for the fund.

One tribute left on the page from Emma Harrison said: “It is a pleasure knowing you and the joy, kindness, fun, beaming smile and lovely voice that graced the classroom.”

Lisa Hamill wrote: “Such a wonderful little boy with a big smile. You will always be remembered Jasper.”

Sean McDowell added: “Heaven has gained a great angel; he’ll be building Lego good and proper.”

Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-jasper-bryan-cook