'Heartbroken' dad pays tribute to beloved son Koa Brock

Koa died last Thursday evening after contracting meningococcal meningitis – a serious infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

The youngster’s dad Barry is from Haddington, while mum Haley is from Dumfries, where the family now live. 

Koa's parents Barry and Haley

There has been a huge public outpouring of support for the family in the past week.

People gathered all over Scotland, including in Haddington and Tranent on Sunday, to release balloons as a tribute to the infant, who was born on July 27 last year.

There were impressive turnouts at the events, despite a warning from East Lothian Council that the “release of balloons and sky lanterns from council owned and managed land is not permitted”.

A “heartbroken” Barry told the Courier: “He was just a perfect wee boy – he was our world.

“He was a bit unwell last Sunday and Monday and we gave him medicine and he seemed to get a bit better.

“There were no symptoms apart from him being a bit grumpy – it just came out of nowhere.”

Mr Brock, 38, said a first responder came to their home in Dumfries and rushed Koa to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated there and he was moved to Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children.

Doctors told Barry and 28-year-old Haley that Koa would not survive and he sadly passed away at 9.58pm last Thursday.

He said: “I asked them about donating his organs – they weren’t able to find a match for them though, unfortunately.”

However, Mr Brock said the fact that hundreds of people – himself included – had pledged to become organ donors after hearing about his son was of some comfort.

He added: “We have managed to get more than 300 people to sign up as donors in the last few days and that has been a huge comfort to us.

“If we can do something that means other parents don’t have to go through the same thing as we are then that will be a positive step.”

Thousands of balloons, most of them blue in recognition of Barry’s love of Rangers FC, were released across Scotland on Sunday afternoon – including at Hampden Park in Glasgow as the Ibrox side took on Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final (see photo below, by Andrew Milligan/PA Wire).

“The game was stopped for the balloons to be burst and to know that was for my wee boy was just overwhelming,” he said.

Mr Brock, who runs a carpet-cleaning company whic operates in East Lothian, explained how the idea of releasing balloons in Koa’s memory initially came about.

“I asked my friend Dan Harley, who I go to all the games with, if he would let off a balloon for Koa and tie one to my seat as I knew I wasn’t going to be [at the game],” he said.

“From there, everything just went mental and people in Dumfries, Haddington, Tranent, Musselburgh, Lockerbie – there were so many it is hard to name them all – were releasing balloons for our wee boy.”

Koa's sister Leona ready to release the first balloon at Haddington

While Mr Brock thanked everyone who had taken part, he reserved a special thank you for David Turner, a man he admits he “hardly knows”, who set up a JustGiving page to raise money for the family.

“I was trying to tell people that because I’m self-employed, pay for cars and have got a guy on my books I needed the work to keep coming in,” he said.

“As well as everything else going on, I was worrying that work would start to dry up because people wouldn’t want to contact me.

"Then David set up this JustGiving page and it’s raised more than £9,000 so far – the support Haley and I have had is unbelievable.

“We would just like to thank everyone for all their help and support.”

Mr Brock confirmed to the Courier that Koa’s funeral service – for friends and close family only – would take place on Tuesday in Dumfries.

Steve Dayman, founder of charity Meningitis Now, said: “We are saddened to learn of this case of meningitis, and extend our thoughts and best wishes to the family.”

A spokesperson for the Rangers Charity Foundation added: “The foundation would like to send our deepest condolences to the family of young supporter Koa Brock.

“We have arranged a collection to take place before next Sunday’s game at Ibrox against Hearts, with the money raised to be donated to Meningitis Now in memory of Koa.”

On May 1, Fisherrow Bootcamp is holding a ‘super trail’ fitness class for all abilities, where those who attend are being encouraged to wear blue.

Money taken to take part in the class, which begins at 6.30pm and costs £5, will go to Koa’s family.

To donate to the JustGiving page set up to help Mr Brock and Ms Hamilton, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/koa-01