{"id":887685,"date":"2022-11-17T16:46:42","date_gmt":"2022-11-17T16:46:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/?p=1632112"},"modified":"2022-11-17T16:46:42","modified_gmt":"2022-11-17T16:46:42","slug":"the-death-of-a-toddler-shouldnt-be-a-learning-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2022\/11\/17\/the-death-of-a-toddler-shouldnt-be-a-learning-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"The death of a toddler shouldn\u2019t be a \u2018learning experience\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On 15 November, the inquest into the death of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak<\/a> in 2020 concluded that the toddler died due to prolonged exposure to black mould in his family’s flat. Since 2017,\u00a0Awaab’s family\u00a0had complained to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH)\u00a0about the damp and mould in their home, and had requested to be re-housed. RBH, the social housing association responsible for the Rochdale council flat, failed to take action. The toddler died on 21 December 2020, having been discharged from hospital two days prior.<\/p>\n

Unfit for human habitation<\/h2>\n

A post-mortem examination revealed\u00a0fungus in the toddler’s blood and lungs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Senior coroner Joanne Kearsley<\/a> said:<\/p>\n

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Awaab Ishak died as a result of a severe respiratory condition caused due to prolonged exposure to mould in his home environment.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

She added:<\/p>\n

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Action to treat and prevent the mould was not taken. His respiratory condition led to respiratory arrest.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Surveyor Daniel McVey, who inspected the property two days after Awaab\u2019s death, told the court that it was unfit for human habitation<\/a>. Despite this, RBH refused to rehouse\u00a0Awaab\u2019s family\u00a0following his death. His mother was pregnant at the time.<\/p>\n

Responding to the inquest’s conclusions, the family’s barrister Christian Weaver shared:<\/p>\n

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It has been an honour representing Awaab\u2019s family as their barrister. <\/p>\n

Their home was, literally, unfit for human habitation – yet nothing was done. <\/p>\n

The family\u2019s call for better conditions for social housing tenants must not be ignored. <\/p>\n

Awaab\u2019s death must not be in vain. https:\/\/t.co\/4qJ4gmBBo4<\/a><\/p>\n

— Christian Weaver (@ChristianKamali) November 15, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n