Nearly four months after 47-year-old Alphonsine Djiako Leuga dialed 999 for urgent medical assistance that never arrived, both she and her 18-year-old daughter, Loraine Choulla, were found deceased in their home in Radford, Nottingham.

Their bodies were discovered on May 21, 2024, after a concerned neighbor noticed that the windows of the family home had remained open since February—prompting him to alert authorities.

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A Desperate Plea for Help That Was Never Answered

Leuga made the emergency call on February 2, 2024. During the call, she clearly identified herself and provided her location, saying she was cold, unable to move, and urgently needed help for both herself and her daughter. Loraine, who had Down Syndrome and learning disabilities, was completely dependent on her mother for care.

According to information presented at a hearing at the Nottingham Coroner’s Court, Leuga suffered from sickle cell anemia, a serious genetic condition that can cause severe pain and fatigue.

Investigators believe Leuga died shortly after placing the emergency call, and that her daughter remained alive until February 28, likely alone and helpless after her mother's passing.

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A Systemic Breakdown

Shockingly, despite having the caller's name and address, the East Midlands Ambulance Service failed to dispatch help. The emergency call was labeled as “abandoned”, and the dispatcher closed the case, rendering it invisible within the operations system.

Detective Constable Jack Cook of Nottinghamshire Police confirmed:

“Loraine had been left in the premises alone and had been alive until her device had lost charge.”

At the inquest, Dr. Stuart Hamilton, the pathologist who examined both victims, acknowledged that starvation or dehydration may have contributed to the daughter's death, stating:

“There is nothing in my findings that say any of that is incorrect.”

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A Missed Chance That May Have Saved a Life

Susan Jevons, head of patient safety at East Midlands Ambulance Service, testified that attempts had been made to call Leuga back, but no ambulance was dispatched.

“The call should have been left open for an ambulance to attend once we had the address, which we did,” Jevons admitted.
“Yes, there was a missed opportunity for an ambulance to attend Alphonsine when she requested one.”

The coroner stressed the tragic implications, noting that dispatching emergency services might have saved Loraine's life.

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A Mother’s Sacrifice, a System’s Failure

In a further revelation, it was noted that just days before the 999 call, Leuga had been hospitalized for a blood transfusion due to low iron levels. Despite her condition, she was granted a “pragmatic” discharge after just two days—because she had to return home to care for her daughter.

The official cause of death for Leuga was reported as pneumonia of uncertain cause. The cause of Loraine’s death remains undetermined.

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This heartbreaking case has raised serious questions about emergency response protocols, particularly concerning vulnerable individuals who rely on those systems for survival. As the investigation continues, many are calling for systemic reform to ensure such tragedies never happen again.

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