More devastating information has been released after a mother and daughter were found dead in their home, months after a desperate 999 call for help was mistakenly dismissed.
Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, 47, and her daughter Loraine Choulla, 18, were discovered on May 21, 2024, inside their council house on Hartley Road in Radford, Nottingham.
The inquest heard that Alphonsine likely died of pneumonia between February 2 and 8, while her daughter, who had Down's Syndrome and learning disabilities, is believed to have died of malnutrition and dehydration weeks later.
It's been revealed that on February 2, Alphonsine used her daughter’s tablet to call for an ambulance.
"Would you send an ambulance? Please come, please," she pleaded in the call, BBC News reported. But the emergency call was mistakenly labeled as “abandoned” and closed without any help being dispatched.
"I'm entirely satisfied had an ambulance been sent to Alphonsine, then Loraine would not have died when she did,” Assistant Coroner Amanda Bewley said. “She would most probably have still been alive today."
Loraine, who was described as “entirely dependent” on her mother and “primarily non-verbal,” died alone in the home sometime after February 28, officials believe. Her death remains “unascertained”, but evidence at the scene pointed to her attempts to survive.
Two unopened tuna tins were found in the microwave, along with half-eaten bread and raw pasta in her bedroom, per another report by the BBC.
Authorities said the tragic discovery was made only after a passerby noticed something was wrong and alerted police, who then found the bodies inside the house. Moldy and half-eaten food indicated the women had been dead for some time.
Detective Con Jack Cook of Nottinghamshire Police testified that Alphonsine had recently been hospitalized for a lower respiratory tract infection and had sickle cell anaemia. The cause of her death was recorded as pneumonia of uncertain origin.
In a statement issued after the inquest, Keeley Sheldon, Director of Quality at East Midlands Ambulance Service, said: “I am truly sorry that we did not respond as we should have to Alphonsine Djiako Leuga and Lorraine Choulla. Our deepest condolences remain with their family.
“After our internal investigation, we made changes to our policies, procedures, and training to ensure this does not happen in future," they added.
Officials also confirmed Loraine had been known to social services for years. She had been placed under a child protection plan in 2023 due to ongoing concerns for her well-being, but the plan was closed on January 31, 2024 - just days before her mother's fatal emergency.
Nichola Goode, a service manager with the city council’s whole life disability team, admitted the plan was closed in error. “I think in hindsight, now that we've looked at that, it was a wrong decision made by child social care. We could have followed more thorough inquiries,” she said. “We accept that we shouldn't have closed the plan.”
Goode also revealed that Alphonsine had recently been discharged from the hospital after life-saving treatment. A follow-up visit was attempted, but social workers left when “it appeared no one was home".
“Had we believed Alphonsine and Loraine were inside, we would have called the police,” Goode told the inquest.
The investigation is now focusing on whether missed opportunities by social services and emergency responders could have changed the outcome for the mother and daughter.
Nottingham City Council said it had launched a review of its practices. “We take our responsibilities seriously and have already undertaken a review of relevant policies, procedures, and practices to ensure any necessary improvements are made,” a spokesperson said.
“Our thoughts are with the Leuga and Choulla families at this extremely difficult time," they added.