Latest news with #LoraineChoulla
BBC News
16 hours ago
- BBC News
Mum found dead with daughter feared losing her
A mother who was found dead alongside her disabled daughter in their home had repeatedly refused support from local services, an inquest has bodies of Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, 47, and 18-year-old Loraine Choulla were found on 21 May 2024 in a house in Hartley Road in Radford, Nottingham, though it was believed they had been dead for some time before they were discovered. Nottingham Coroner's Court heard they had moved into their council home in June 2019 following a homelessness in the years before her death, Alphonsine's engagement with housing and social services dwindled and she feared her youngest daughter would be taken away. The inquest, which started on Monday, heard how Alphonsine had called 999 from her house in February, pleading for an ambulance and saying she could not after the call was mistakenly considered an abandoned call and closed, nobody medical cause of death was proposed as pneumonia while her daughter's was "unascertained".On Tuesday, the court heard how in the years she lived in Hartley Road, Alphonsine started to refuse access to her property from housing services and other social care agencies. Alphonsine had been in the property since 2019 and initially engaged with council a statement read to the court, assistant director for tenancy and estate services at Nottingham City Council, Kathy Sheldon, said after 2021 "access to the property became more difficult".Several inspections were missed and as a result the gas supply to the property was capped in 2023. In October that year Alphonsine asked the city council for the gas to be turned back on, but did not grant access to her property for that to happen, the inquest was told. That meant from 2023 the house had no hot water and no heating. The court also heard how Loraine, who had Down's Syndrome and learning disabilities, stopped attending her SEN school from 2022, after her mother asked for her placement to be had been raised by the school between 2021 and 2022 about her daughter's low also refused help with Loraine's college applications and in September 2022 Loraine was "formally [considered] not in education, employment, or training", the inquest was told there was also a lack of engagement with support from the city council's Whole Life Disability Team, which provides specialist social care to Brettel, a city council SEND director, said in a statement: "Loraine was trying to engage with professionals but Alphonsine was trying to prevent her from doing so."During a conversation with Alphonsine, she expressed that she was really worried about Loraine."He added Alphonsine expressed fear that the specialist social care workers would "take Loraine away from her". Alphonsine, who was originally from Cameroon, moved from Italy - where her two daughters were born - to the UK in September three were housed in Hartley Road by the council in 2019 but her eldest daughter, Elvira Choulla, moved out of the property in April a statement to police which was read to the court, Elvira said after July 2023, her contact with her mother became less month, Alphonsine took Loraine on holiday to Africa, not telling Elvira until they had arrived, which she said upset added her mother travelled a lot - usually to Italy or Cameroon - and "usually for long periods of time"Of her sister's education, Elvira said: "Initially Loraine attended school all the time and loved it, but eventually Alphonsine believed Loraine was being neglected at school." 'Truly loving mother' Her last contact with Loraine was in November 2023, after Elvira visited her sister and mother for a family dinner."We had a lovely time and we had a lovely meal and I got to see Loraine and Alphonsine together," she going forward, their contact was further limited and when Elvira visited the house in early 2024, she said the house was "in darkness and there were no signs of life" inside. She was later told by a friend that her mum and sister had been seen in friend advised her against contacting the police over concerns about their whereabouts. The final time she attempted to contact Alphonsine or Loraine was in April. "Loraine and I had an amazing relationship and she was, and still is, my best friend," Elvira said. "I loved Loraine and every time I was with her I could tell she loved me added of her mother: "We had a strained relationship at points, however she took great care of Loraine and was very patient and very understanding, and was a truly loving mother."The inquest continues.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Mother and daughter found dead three months after 999 call
A 999 call made by a mother who was later found dead along with her 'entirely dependent' daughter led to no ambulance being sent despite the call handler being given their address and postcode, an inquest has heard. Nottingham Coroner's Court was told Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, 47, suffered from sickle cell anaemia and died from pneumonia, while her 18-year-old daughter Loraine Choulla had learning difficulties and Down's syndrome and relied on her mother for food and hydration. An inquest into the deaths, expected to last for five days, began on Monday with assistant coroner Amanda Bewley hearing that Ms Leuga called 999 three months before her body was found, telling a call handler she was cold and could not move. The hearing was told that during the call, made shortly after 1pm on February 2 last year, Ms Leuga groaned, requested an ambulance and said 'I need help to my daughter' and 'I'm in the bed, I feel cold and can't move' before cutting off the line. She also gave details of her address in Hartley Road, Radford, Nottingham, where her body and that of her daughter were found on May 21 last year. Giving evidence to the inquest, East Midlands Ambulance Service's head of patient safety, Susan Jevons said the call handler, an emergency medical adviser, should have referred the call to the control room despatch officers. Ms Jevons said attempts had been made to call Ms Leuga back, but she told the inquest: 'The call should have been left for an ambulance to attend once we had got the address, which we had. The ambulance didn't go to the address because the emergency medical adviser, thinking it was an abandoned call, closed the call down. 'So it wasn't visible to anybody within the emergency operations centre.' The coroner told Ms Jevons she would have to consider the possibility that sending an ambulance to the address 'might have been the difference between life or death' for Loraine. The inquest was told that Ms Leuga was admitted to hospital for a blood transfusion in late January last year as she was critically ill with very low iron levels, and was given a 'pragmatic' discharge linked to her daughter's care needs. The coroner asked Ms Jevons whether, if she found at the end of the inquest that Loraine had died after her mother, there had been a 'missed opportunity' in relation to the teenager's death. Ms Jevons responded: 'Yes, there was a missed opportunity for an ambulance to attend Alphonsine when she requested one.' Earlier, pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton told the hearing by video-link that the mother and daughter were both likely to have been dead for 'weeks to months' before they were found, rather than for days or hours. Dr Hamilton said his initial cause of death following a post-mortem examination on Ms Leuga was pneumonia of uncertain cause, while her daughter's cause of death could not be established. Answering questions from the coroner, the pathologist said he could not rule out that Ms Leuga had died on the day of the 999 call. The body of Loraine, who the inquest was told was 'entirely dependent on her mother to meet her hydration and nutritional needs', showed no evidence of any third-party involvement. Dr Hamilton said of the teenager: 'Unfortunately, based on the post-mortem examination and additional tests alone, it is my view that the cause of death is classed as unascertained – that is, I am not able to give a cause of death on the balance of probabilities.' Asked to comment on the possibility that Loraine's death may have been because of dehydration or malnutrition, Dr Hamilton answered: 'There is nothing in my findings that say any of that is incorrect.' Loraine was more likely to have died from dehydration than malnutrition, the witness said, if it was accepted that she 'wasn't able to make the decision to drink water' because of her difficulties. The inquest continues.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
'I'm in bed, I feel cold and I can't move': Mother and daughter found dead three months after 999 call, inquest hears
A mother pleaded for help on a 999 call months before she was found dead alongside her disabled daughter in their home. The bodies of Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, 47, and 18-year-old Loraine Choulla were found on 21 May 2024 in a house in Radford, Nottingham. It is believed the pair were undiscovered for 'weeks or months'. Nottingham Coroner's Court heard that the emergency call led to no ambulance being sent despite the call handler being given their address and postcode. The inquest heard that Ms Luega suffered from sickle cell anaemia and died from pneumonia while her daughter Ms Choulla had learning difficulties and Down's syndrome and relied on her mother for food and hydration. Ms Luega made the 999 call three months before her body was found, telling the call handler she was cold and could not move. She requested an ambulance, telling the call handler 'I need help to my daughter' and 'I'm in the bed, I feel cold and can't move' before cutting off the line, the inquest heard. She also gave details of her address in Hartley Road, Radford, Nottingham, where her body and that of her daughter were found on May 21 last year. Pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton told the hearing that he could "not rule out" that Alphonsine might have died on February 2, the day she called 999. A inquest into the deaths, led by assistant coroner Amanda Bawley, is expected to last for five days. Giving evidence to the inquest, East Midlands Ambulance Service's head of patient safety, Susan Jevons said the call handler, an emergency medical adviser, should have referred the call to the control room despatch officers. Ms Jevons said attempts had been made to call Ms Leuga back, but she told the inquest: 'The call should have been left for an ambulance to attend once we had got the address, which we had. 'The ambulance didn't go to the address because the emergency medical adviser, thinking it was an abandoned call, closed the call down. 'So it wasn't visible to anybody within the emergency operations centre.' The coroner told Ms Jevons she would have to consider the possibility that sending an ambulance to the address 'might have been the difference between life or death' for Loraine. The inquest was told that Ms Leuga was admitted to hospital for a blood transfusion in late January last year as she was critically ill with very low iron levels, and was given a 'pragmatic' discharge linked to her daughter's care needs. The coroner asked Ms Jevons whether, if she found at the end of the inquest that Loraine had died after her mother, there had been a 'missed opportunity' in relation to the teenager's death. Ms Jevons responded: 'Yes, there was a missed opportunity for an ambulance to attend Alphonsine when she requested one.' Earlier, pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton told the hearing by video-link that the mother and daughter were both likely to have been dead for 'weeks to months' before they were found, rather than for days or hours. Dr Hamilton said his initial cause of death following a post-mortem examination on Ms Leuga was pneumonia of uncertain cause, while her daughter's cause of death could not be established. Answering questions from the coroner, the pathologist said he could not rule out that Ms Leuga had died on the day of the 999 call. The body of Loraine, who the inquest was told was 'entirely dependent on her mother to meet her hydration and nutritional needs', showed no evidence of any third party involvement. Dr Hamilton said of the teenager: 'Unfortunately, based on the post-mortem examination and additional tests alone, it is my view that the cause of death is classed as unascertained - that is, I am not able to give a cause of death on the balance of probabilities.' Asked to comment on the possibility that Loraine's death may have been because of dehydration or malnutrition, Dr Hamilton answered: 'There is nothing in my findings that say any of that is incorrect.' Loraine was more likely to have died from dehydration than malnutrition, the witness said, if it was accepted that she 'wasn't able to make the decision to drink water' because of her difficulties. The inquest continues.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Bodies of Nottingham mother and daughter found almost four months after 999 call
A woman who was found dead alongside her 'entirely dependent' teenage daughter had called 999 saying she 'could not move' almost four months before her body was found but no ambulance was sent to her, an inquest has heard. Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, 47, suffered from sickle cell anaemia and died from pneumonia, and her 18-year-old daughter, Loraine Choulla, had learning difficulties and Down's syndrome, relying on her mother for food and hydration. Nottingham coroner's court heard that Leuga called 999 on 2 February last year saying she was cold and could not move, and gave details of her address before hanging up. The hearing was told that during the call Leuga groaned, requested an ambulance, and said: 'I need help to my daughter' and: 'I'm in the bed, I feel cold and can't move' before cutting off the line. She also gave details of her address in Radford, Nottingham, where her body and that of her daughter were found on 21 May last year, almost four months later. Giving evidence at an inquest into their deaths, East Midlands ambulance service's head of patient safety, Susan Jevons, said the call should have been referred to the control room dispatch officers. She said attempts had been made to call Leuga back and that 'the call should have been left for an ambulance to attend once we had got the address, which we had. 'The ambulance didn't go to the address because the emergency medical adviser, thinking it was an abandoned call, closed the call down. So it wasn't visible to anybody within the emergency operations centre.' The coroner said she would have to consider the possibility that sending an ambulance to the address 'might have been the difference between life or death' for Choulla. Jevons said there was a 'missed opportunity for an ambulance to attend Alphonsine when she requested one'. The inquest was told that Leuga was admitted to hospital for a blood transfusion in late January last year as she was critically ill with very low iron levels, and she was given a 'pragmatic' discharge due to her daughter's care needs. Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton told the hearing that the mother and daughter were both likely to have been dead for 'weeks to months' before they were found, rather than for days or hours. He said he could not rule out the possibility that Leuga had died on the day of the 999 call. Hamilton said Leuga's cause of death was pneumonia of uncertain cause, while her daughter's cause of death could not be established. Asked to comment on the possibility that Choulla's death may have been because of dehydration or malnutrition, Hamilton answered: 'There is nothing in my findings that say any of that is incorrect.' The inquest continues and is expected to last five days.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Mum and daughter found dead at home months after 999 plea
A mother called 999 pleading for help months before she was found dead alongside her disabled daughter in their home, an inquest has bodies of Alphonsine Dijako Leuga, 47, and 18-year-old Loraine Choulla were found on 21 May 2024 in a house in Radford, Nottingham, after concerns were raised about their welfare. They were believed to have been undiscovered for "weeks or months". An inquest into their deaths, which started on Monday, heard Alphonsine had called for an ambulance on 2 February saying she was cold and could not move, but nobody attended. An inquest at Nottingham Coroner's Court, led by assistant coroner Amanda Bewley, is expected to last five medical cause of death was proposed as pneumonia while her daughter's was "unascertained", pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton said in evidence. The inquest heard Loraine, who had Down's Syndrome and learning disabilities, was "entirely dependent" on her Hamilton said he could "not rule out" that Alphonsine might have died on 2 February, which is when she called 999. Alphonsine had been admitted to City Hospital on 26 January with a lower respiratory tract infection and needed blood transfusions due to low iron inquest heard despite the hospital wanting her to stay, she was "discharged pragmatically" on 28 January to return to her was agreed she would return the next day, but she did not come back, and the hospital and her GP were unable to contact her. On 2 February, Alphonsine called 999 asking for an ambulance, the inquest told a call handler she needed help for herself and her daughter."I feel cold and I can't move," she told the call handler. 'Missed opportunity' In a transcript read out at the inquest, the call handler asked several times what language Alphonsine spoke and whether she needed an interpreter. Despite not responding to those questions, she gave her address and asked again for an ambulance. "Would you send an ambulance? Please come, please," were the last words she said on the phone before the call ended. Giving evidence, Susan Jevons, a paramedic and head of the coroners service at East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), said an attempt was made to call Alphonsine back with no answer."The ambulance didn't go to the address because the emergency medical advisor, thinking it was an abandoned call, closed the call down," Mrs Jevons said. She added that should "never had happened" as they had her address, telephone number, and details of her symptoms. An internal investigation found there was a "missed opportunity" for an ambulance to attend the day Alphonsine called. Mrs Jevons apologised on behalf of EMAS for "all of the errors" it madeThe inquest continues.
