Two young brothers with a rare skin condition have died within days of each other, their family has said.
Harry and Cody Churchill from Poole, aged three and 21 months, both had epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and developed infections.
In January the Churchill family had taken part in a BBC Inside Out programme to raise awareness of EB.
Younger patients are sometimes called “butterfly children” because their skin is fragile like a butterfly’s wings.
Harry died at Julia’s House hospice in Corfe Mullen on Wednesday and Cody died on Friday in hospital in Poole.
‘Strong bond’
In a Facebook post, parents Chris and Steph Churchill said: “Losing two children in two days is anyone’s worse nightmare. The only comfort we have is knowing they are reunited as one.
“Cody couldn’t live without Harry – their bond was far too strong.”
The skin condition affects about 5,000 people in the UK.
It causes the skin to become very fragile and any trauma or friction can result in painful blisters.
The family previously said they had taken part in the TV programme as they wanted to make life easier for others coping with the condition.