Awaab Ishak died shortly after his second birthday on December 21, 2020. Coroner Joanne Kearsley found that he “died as a result of a severe respiratory condition caused by prolonged exposure to mold in his home environment” and “no steps were taken to treat and prevent mold.” Describing the property, on the Freehold estate of Rochdale, the coroner said it “had inadequate ventilation and was not equipped for normal day-to-day activities which resulted in excessive dampness and condensation”. He ended the hearing by saying, “How does this happen? How in the UK in 2020 does a two-year-old die from mold exposure? “This issue is not just a Rochdale problem, nor is damp and mold just a social housing problem, it is a major issue in the private sector too. “There is no doubt that the tragic death of Awaab Ishak will and should be a defining moment for the housing sector.”
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Fungi found in the lungs and blood Awaab was rushed to hospital on December 19 after having difficulty breathing, but was discharged the following morning, the coroner said. But he returned the next day and died after cardiac arrest caused by respiratory failure. His throat, trachea and other airways were so swollen that congestion would have made breathing difficult, said Dr. Phillip Lumb, who performed Awaab’s autopsy. The fungus was found in Awaab’s blood and lungs, with inflammation so severe it suggested an allergic reaction to it, he said. He gave the cause of death as “mold contamination of the environment”. Professor Malcolm Richardson, a mold and fungus expert, backed these findings, saying there had been “extensive mould” on the walls and ceilings of the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom for “quite a long time”. Image: Awaab Ishak on his second birthday ‘Happy, smiling baby’ Awaab’s father, Faisal Abdullah, arrived in the UK as an asylum seeker from Sudan in July 2015 before his wife Aisha Amin joined him in February 2018, the inquest heard. Awaab was born prematurely and suffered repeated colds and viral respiratory infections in his short life, but was otherwise healthy and concerns were always raised with medical professionals, the hearing was told. His first health visitor described him as a “happy, smiling baby”. Mr Abdullah moved into the flat, which is owned and managed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, in August 2016. He noticed “black dots” of mold in the kitchen in October 2017 and was told to “paint over it” by property managers. He had returned in October 2018 and by May 2019 Mr Abdullah was making frequent complaints and asked to move home, the coroner said. The mother said “disgusting” it made her feel sad Giving evidence, his wife said: “When someone came to the flat they said it was disgusting and I felt sad about it. I’d rather visit my friends than have people visit the flat.” Mr Abdullah pursued legal action and his case was taken over by Anthony Hodari Solicitors in June 2020. The housing association said that despite the complaints, it was its policy not to carry out work on a property subject to a legal complaint until it had been cleared by solicitors. Daniel McVey, an inspector at Rochdale Council, who visited the flat, said it was “unfit for human habitation”. Greater Manchester Police also told the inquest that several properties on the same estate had damp and mold but did not meet the threshold of evidence to prosecute the housing association for manslaughter or corporate manslaughter. Asked to describe the conditions in all social housing, Professor Richardson said 50% of properties suffered from mold and the overall situation was “terrible”. The coroner concluded: “I find in fact that the development of Awaab’s severe respiratory condition, which led to his respiratory arrest, was solely due to the prolonged exposure to his home environment.”
title: “Two Year Old Boy Dies As A Result Of Mold Infested Flat Unfit For Human Habitation Uk News " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-11” author: “Arthur Du”
Awaab Ishak died shortly after his second birthday on December 21, 2020. Coroner Joanne Kearsley found that he “died as a result of a severe respiratory condition caused by prolonged exposure to mold in his home environment” and “no steps were taken to treat and prevent mold.” Describing the property, on the Freehold estate of Rochdale, the coroner said it “had inadequate ventilation and was not equipped for normal day-to-day activities which resulted in excessive dampness and condensation”. He ended the hearing by saying, “How does this happen? How in the UK in 2020 does a two-year-old die from mold exposure? “This issue is not just a Rochdale problem, nor is damp and mold just a social housing problem, it is a major issue in the private sector too. “There is no doubt that the tragic death of Awaab Ishak will and should be a defining moment for the housing sector.”
More about Greater Manchester
Fungi found in the lungs and blood Awaab was rushed to hospital on December 19 after having difficulty breathing, but was discharged the following morning, the coroner said. But he returned the next day and died after cardiac arrest caused by respiratory failure. His throat, trachea and other airways were so swollen that congestion would have made breathing difficult, said Dr. Phillip Lumb, who performed Awaab’s autopsy. The fungus was found in Awaab’s blood and lungs, with inflammation so severe it suggested an allergic reaction to it, he said. He gave the cause of death as “mold contamination of the environment”. Professor Malcolm Richardson, a mold and fungus expert, backed these findings, saying there had been “extensive mould” on the walls and ceilings of the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom for “quite a long time”. Image: Awaab Ishak on his second birthday ‘Happy, smiling baby’ Awaab’s father, Faisal Abdullah, arrived in the UK as an asylum seeker from Sudan in July 2015 before his wife Aisha Amin joined him in February 2018, the inquest heard. Awaab was born prematurely and suffered repeated colds and viral respiratory infections in his short life, but was otherwise healthy and concerns were always raised with medical professionals, the hearing was told. His first health visitor described him as a “happy, smiling baby”. Mr Abdullah moved into the flat, which is owned and managed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, in August 2016. He noticed “black dots” of mold in the kitchen in October 2017 and was told to “paint over it” by property managers. He had returned in October 2018 and by May 2019 Mr Abdullah was making frequent complaints and asked to move home, the coroner said. The mother said “disgusting” it made her feel sad Giving evidence, his wife said: “When someone came to the flat they said it was disgusting and I felt sad about it. I’d rather visit my friends than have people visit the flat.” Mr Abdullah pursued legal action and his case was taken over by Anthony Hodari Solicitors in June 2020. The housing association said that despite the complaints, it was its policy not to carry out work on a property subject to a legal complaint until it had been cleared by solicitors. Daniel McVey, an inspector at Rochdale Council, who visited the flat, said it was “unfit for human habitation”. Greater Manchester Police also told the inquest that several properties on the same estate had damp and mold but did not meet the threshold of evidence to prosecute the housing association for manslaughter or corporate manslaughter. Asked to describe the conditions in all social housing, Professor Richardson said 50% of properties suffered from mold and the overall situation was “terrible”. The coroner concluded: “I find in fact that the development of Awaab’s severe respiratory condition, which led to his respiratory arrest, was solely due to the prolonged exposure to his home environment.”
