Disney-themed funeral held for brave Basildon boy

Noah Cox-Lee, aged five, from Basildon, was born with a genetic mutation and spent most of his life in and out of hospital with the rare neurological condition FOXG1 syndrome.

He died on May 17.

Noah was a fan of Disney cartoons – with his favourites including Moana, Cars, Stitch and Encanto – and Disney was the theme for his funeral on Friday.

His coffin was decorated with some of his favourites, including Cars, and funeral directors wore fancy dress – with one as Buzz Lightyear and another in a Moana costume.

A funeral director in a Moana costume at the Disney-themed funeral of five-year-old Noah Cox-Lee, at Basildon Crematorium (Image: PA)

Scores of bikers provided an escort to the funeral cortege, after word spread on social media, with members of the Thurrock Bikers group accompanying the hearse to Basildon Crematorium.

Many of the almost 200 riders donned fancy dress, with one as Sulley from Monsters Inc, a Spiderman and a Batman among the colourful collection of fictional favourites.

The coffin of Noah Cox-Lee, decorated with Disney cartoons is carried into his Disney-themed funeral at Basildon Crematorium (Image: PA)

His mother Channell Cox-Lee said she and her husband Terence Cox-Lee, 29, were “so appreciative of everyone getting involved”.

“Honestly, it’s absolutely amazing,” she said.

“We’re so appreciative of everyone getting involved.

Bikers dressed in Disney costumes ride motorbikes in the Disney-themed funeral procession for five-year-old Noah Cox-Lee, at Basildon Crematorium (Image: PA)

“Being our little boy, you want to give him the world.

“The fact is we can, and everyone’s come together to give him that.

“Even though it’s turned our world upside down and we’re so heartbroken, the fact is everyone’s got together to celebrate his life and all we’ve ever wanted is for him to be remembered.

Bikers dressed in Disney costumes ride motorbikes in the Disney-themed funeral procession for five-year-old Noah Cox-Lee, at Basildon Crematorium (Image: PA)

“For everyone to come together and celebrate what he was, no matter what he went through he was always smiling through it.

“Sometimes it puts it in perspective.

Channell Cox-Lee (left) the mother of Noah Cox-Lee, is comforted outside the Disney-themed funeral for five-year-old Noah (Image: PA)

“You can be having such a bad day over something so little, but he was going through so much and yet he never let it affect him.”

Mrs Cox-Lee, who is a full-time carer, said there “wasn’t a day where he wasn’t smiling”.

Terence Cox-Lee (back, centre), the father of Noah Cox-lee, with his brother and sister, being driven by a biker dressed in a Disney costume (Image: PA)

She said that Noah was in a wheelchair and had “such low muscle tone he couldn’t move his body, he couldn’t walk, he couldn’t hold his head, he couldn’t sit up”.

“He was fed completely through a peg,” she said.

“He couldn’t take anything orally.

“He suffered with gastro issues, with swallowing issues, his vision was affected as well.

Noah Cox-Lee with his brother Leo and sister Kaitlyn (Image: Family)

“I think that’s where his love of Disney came from because of the bright colours.

“The music, the songs, anything like that.

“He was very cheeky as well.

“If he didn’t have his Disney or something on the TV that he wanted he would basically start mumbling and making noises until you did put it on for him.”

She said his favourites were “basically all the musicals”.

“He was such a delight,” said Mrs Cox-Lee.

“He would just smile and it would brighten up your day.”