Family horrified as CCTV footage shows nurse switching off disabled daughter's support while she was still alive
At around 8am on 15 February 2022, two carers arrived to the home of 13-year-old Joy Osundeko after her dad, Mayo, had spent the night caring for her.
However, about an hour later, her mum, Bisi, went into her bedroom and found something was very wrong.
Mayo rushed down the stairs to find their daughter ‘completely lifeless’ as it eventually became clear that her ventilator had been switched off – with CCTV showing a nurse had done so.
The young girl, who had Down’s syndrome and several serious medical conditions, required round-the-clock care at her family home in St Helens, Merseyside.
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She later died on 13 June 2022 after suffering a stroke which caused brain stem death.
And the family launched legal action against Optima Health and Social Care Ltd, which employed the nurse.
Mayo recalled that morning he found Joy ‘lifeless’ in February.
“I grabbed the bag, removed the ventilator from the trachea, and manually provided oxygen to Joy myself,” he said.
"The nurse moved out of the way. I kept providing oxygen but Joy was like a baby doll. I was screaming her name. It took almost a minute before Joy started breathing again."
The family claim the nurse initially claimed the ventilator had only been switched off for a few seconds.
CCTV footage showed the carer appearing to twice press and hold a button before pressing the screen as the machine made a sound as it shut down.
“When we watched the CCTV footage we were horrified and extremely upset to see the ventilator had been switched off for close to six minutes,” Mayo explained.
Joy ended up spending nine days at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital following the incident and her parents say her health deteriorated dramatically.
“Joy always liked throwing her hands and legs up in the air but her hands and legs, in particular her right leg, was not moving as much as it had done previously,” Mayo said.
"Her leg became difficult to move. We also noticed in a change in her body and a deterioration in her general health. She no longer smiled."
Optima Health and Social Care Ltd admitted breaching its duty of care over the ventilator being switched off but denied that the incident caused Joy any injury or contributed to her death.
The company agreed an out-of-court damages settlement with the family. And a police investigation initially led to charges against the nurse and a criminal trial being listed.
However, the CPS confirmed in December 2025 it would no longer pursue a prosecution and the family’s request for an inquest was also rejected.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council is now investigating the incident.
Solicitor Maria Repanos, of Hudgell Solicitors, said: "Joy's parents have understandably been left absolutely devastated and today, more than four years on, they still have no explanation as to how and why this happened."
Bisi described the pain of losing Joy as ‘unbearable’ and that they feel ‘completely failed by the system’.
"We have never received any form of explanation from the nurse as to how she could possibly have made such a serious mistake,” the mum added.
"An explanation is the least we are owed."
The LADbible Group has contacted Optima Health and Social Care Ltd for comment.
Topics: UK News
Jess Battison