Anish Vij
A mother and her disabled teenage daughter were found dead four months after calling 999 for an ambulance.
It is thought that Loraine Choulla, 18, who had Down's syndrome, died weeks after her mum Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, 47, who died of pneumonia in a house in Hartley Road, Radford last year.
The teenager died of malnutrition and dehydration days later, as the pair were both found in the property on 21 May 2024, reports the BBC.
Had someone answered her dying mother's 999 call from her daughter's tablet on 2 February 2024, an ambulance may have saved Loraine, an inquest has now concluded.
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"Would you send an ambulance? Please come, please," she said on the call.
Assistant coroner Amanda Bewley said on Friday (25 July) that authorities 'missed opportunities' to help the pair.
The coroner added: "I'm entirely satisfied had an ambulance been sent to Alphonsine, then Loraine would not have died when she did.
"She would most probably have still been alive today."
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Bewley Alphonsine, who was born in Cameroon, 'more likely than not, died on or after 2 February and before 8 February', whereas it was likely Loraine died on or after 28 February.
Someone who was passing by the home alerted police, who searched the property on May.
When officers attended the scene, they found half-eaten and mouldy food, which gives an indication of how long the pair were dead for.
The inquest heard that there was evidence that Loraine tried to feed herself, as there were two unopened tuna tins found in the microwave, as well as half-eaten bread and raw pasta in the bedroom.
Keeley Sheldon, director of quality at East Midlands Ambulance Service, issued an apology after the coroner's findings.
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She said: "I am truly sorry that we did not respond as we should have to Alphonsine Djiako Leuga and Lorraine Choulla. Our deepest condolences remain with their family.
"After our internal investigation, we made changes to our policies, procedures and training to ensure this does not happen in future."
A Nottingham City Council spokesperson added in a statement: "We take our responsibilities seriously and have already undertaken a review of relevant policies, procedures and practices to ensure any necessary improvements are made, and that learning is embedded across our services.
"We are committed to acting decisively and continuing to work closely with our partners to safeguard the wellbeing of all Nottingham's citizens.
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"We would like to extend our sincere condolences to the Leuga and Choulla families. Our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time."