BBC Breakfast announces emotional death news as grieving mum breaks down in tears

BBC Breakfast hosts Sally Nugent and Jon Kay announced some emotional news on Tuesday's show following the death of a young boy.

The presenters took a moment to remember Jools Roome, who died three years ago, and his mum, Ellen, is still fighting for answers about how her son died.

Introducing the heartbreaking segment, Jon began, "Now, from today, social media sites and tech companies will have to preserve data relating to the online activity of a child who has died if requested to do so by a coroner."

Sally continued, "Yes, it's the latest part of the Online Safety Act to be rolled out, but some parents who've lost their children say the measures simply don't go far enough."

After playing some footage of Jools before he died, Jon and Sally were joined by Jools' mum, Ellen, who issued a heartbreaking plea. Jon noted, "So it's an important day. It's a change. But for you, it's not a change enough, just explain."

Ellen replied, "So as of today, there's something called data preservation notices, which gives the coroner the right to preserve the data. So they'd have to go to Ofcom to preserve online social media data.

"I spoke to two new bereaved parents last night who are in this position. The police are... what happens when an inquest happens is that the inquest is opened and usually suspended and handed back to the police for investigation.

"The problem is the police are then saying, 'well, we don't have the power to do that', then the coroner is not in control, so they can't use that law. So it seems ridiculous, unless it's automatic, then the coroners can't use that law, and then we're waiting months or potentially years."

She went on, "The thing that bothers me is that there's not enough training for police and coroners as well, so the coroner needs to understand what information to ask for. Do all coroners know how TikTok works, or other apps that kids are using, or what information to ask from Snapchat, and so Ofcom needs to help the coroner understand what information to request."

Ellen went on to explain that she is still "planning to go to the High Court" to try and "piece together what information was missing" regarding Jools' death.

The grieving mum began to choke up as she stated, "I think I'm three and a half years down the line. I could get emotional now, but I don't know why my child's not here, and I want to try for answers.

"And I think as a parent, I should have the right to try to look at social media, and I get we may be too late now, and this law will help other parents, which is great, but I want to try to understand what happened to my son."

BBC Breakfast airs daily at 6am on BBC One.