Mum’s heartbreak over death of girl, 9, ‘from air pollution’ ahead of landmark case
She lived with her daughter next to one of London's busiest roads 25 metres from the South Circular Road in Lewisham
A MUM has today told of her heartbreak ahead of a landmark case over her daughter’s fatal asthma attack death linked to air pollution.
Rosamund Kissi-Debrah’s impassioned plea to stop “our children dying as a result of the air that they breathe” led to permission to apply for a fresh inquest on her nine-year-old’s death.
Ella died in February 2013 after three years of seizures and 27 visits to hospital for asthma attacks.
Lawyers say her 2014 inquest didn’t investigate air pollution, concluding Ella’s cause of death was acute respiratory failure caused by a severe asthma attack.
Today it was revealed Rosamund can seek a second inquest through the High Court to look into air pollution links – which could see the first one quashed.
She said: “Words cannot express how happy I am that the Attorney General has taken this decision and I would like to thank him for reaching his conclusion.
“Nothing will bring my beautiful, bright, bubbly child back, but now at least I may get answers about how she died and whether it was air pollution which snatched her away from us.
“Now I hope a new inquest will make those in power realise that our children are dying as a result of the air that they breathe.
“This cannot go on. Why is this not being taken more seriously by the Government?
“What do we need to do to make them prioritise our children’s lives over convenience and the rights of people to pollute?”
An expert report by Professor Stephen Holgate, quoted in a submission to the Attorney General, found it was likely unlawful levels of air pollution contributed to Ella’s fatal asthma attack.
The report said air pollution levels at the Catford monitoring station one mile from Ella’s home “consistently” exceeded lawful EU limits over the three years before her death.
Prof Holgate concluded there was “a real prospect that without unlawful levels of air pollution Ella would not have died”.
How many deaths are linked to pollution in the UK?
Air pollution in the UK has been linked to an estimated 40,000 premature deaths.
It has been labelled a public health emergency by the World Health Organisation.
Described as “the invisible killer” by the EEA, air pollution is the main cause of premature death in 41 European countries.
The level of air pollution is known to be a major risk factor for childhood asthma.
In England and Wales 1,320 people died of asthma in 2017, a rise of more than 25 per cent over a decade.
The findings have sparked concern the air pollution crisis in the UK is impacting on the health of the elderly and children.
In London, Mayor Sadiq Khan has recently outlined plans to tackle the capital’s “toxic air”.
A report from 2017 found every part of London exheeded the WHO guidelines for pollution limit.
After the fresh evidence emerged in April last year, more than 170,000 people signed a Change.org petition set up by Ella’s mother, calling for a fresh inquest.
An application will now be lodged and a judge will decide if a new inquest will take place.
If the family’s request is granted, Ella may become the first person in the UK for whom air pollution is listed as the cause of death.
The Attorney General said: “I have received several representations about Ella’s case, and acknowledge the wider interest that has been taken in it.
“However, I must assess the application based only on the facts of the case, and on whether there is enough new evidence available to merit reopening the inquest process.
“I have concluded that there is new evidence which may alter the substantial truth of Ella’s death.
“I am therefore able to give my permission for an application to the High Court to request a new inquest, based on the evidential test being met.”
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