Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Tot’s death leaves dad devastated
Coatbridge man hit by tragic loss
A GoFundMe page set up to pay the funeral costs of the young son of a Coatbridge man who died tragically in Portugal has raised almost £4000.
Robert Devlin and his partner have been left “utterly devastated” by the loss of 18-month-old Spencer, who fell to his death from a balcony at the family’s Algarve home earlier this month.
Mr Devlin, 32, runs a smoothie business on the coastal town of Lagos – where he has lived with his Australian partner Holly Bishop, 28, for three years.
The couple have been left mourning the awful loss of their only son, who was pronounced dead at a hospital in Faro after a “freak accident” which occurred as Holly carried out some household chores.
Ms Bishop’s sister Jess has revealed how the accident unfolded at around 9.30am on May 5, while “Spencer followed Holly around as he always did”.
She told Australian media: “Holly had opened the window in Spencer’s room a little bit to air the apartment and let floors dry
“She said he was then playing in the bathroom so she went to tell him to come out and he followed her back to the living room.
“Holly then continued to clean the apartment but again couldn’t see Spencer or now hear him either.
“She thought he was getting up to mischief as kids do when they go quiet, so she went past the bathroom and didn’t see him there.
“She then went into his room and found that he wasn’t there either.”
Ms Bishop began to panic before noticing the window as “fully open”.
Jess continued: “Holly ran over to look and saw little Spencer on the ground outside with people surrounding him so she ran straight down the stairs to him.
“His breathing was very laboured and he was immediately rushed to the local hospital.
“Robert and Holly were told Spencer’s brain function was already gone but they both still held on to hope that he would pull through. Unfortunately the extent of his injuries were just too much for his small body and he passed away peacefully.
“He was always happy and smiling and barely ever cried.
“As expected our whole family is utterly devastated at the loss of Spencer and life will never be the same.”
An investigation into how the toddler fell from the balcony continues.
To make a donation visit uk.gofundme. com/little-spencer-taken-way-to-soon