A 999 Call Was Made. No One Came. Two Lives Were Lost—And the System Stayed Silent for Months
It began with a plea—urgent, desperate, and clear. A mother, struggling to breathe, dialed 999 and gave her address. She asked for an ambulance. Then the line went quiet. What followed wasn’t immediate rescue—but silence. And months later, tragedy.
In May last year, a grim discovery inside a Nottinghamshire home stunned the community. The bodies of 47-year-old Alphonsine Djiako Leuga and her daughter, 18-year-old Loraine Choulla, were found lifeless—victims not only of health complications but of a system that failed to respond when it mattered most.
Alphonsine had sickle cell anemia and often struggled with pain and fatigue. But on February 2, something was different. She knew she needed urgent help, so she reached for the phone and called 999.
She clearly stated her address. She asked for an ambulance.
And then… nothing.
Instead of dispatching help, the call was marked “abandoned.” No emergency crew was sent. A few follow-up calls were attempted, but after no answer, the case was closed without escalation. Alphonsine, according to investigators, likely died shortly after making the call.
But the tragedy didn’t end with her.
Loraine, who had Down syndrome and severe learning disabilities, was completely dependent on her mother for care. For weeks—possibly longer—she remained alone in that house, unable to call for help, confused and frightened. Authorities believe she survived until late February, relying on what little food and water she could access.
Her electronic care device eventually lost power. By the time anyone entered the home in July, it was too late.
Loraine had died shortly before what would have been her 18th birthday.
An Inquest That Came Too Late
This week, an inquest laid bare the shocking missteps. Detective Con Jack Cook explained the chain of events. Pathologist Dr. Stuart Hamilton testified that while pneumonia was the listed cause of Loraine’s death, starvation and dehydration could not be ruled out. “There is nothing in my findings that says any of that is incorrect,” he told the court.
Susan Jevons, Chief of Patient Safety for the East Midlands Ambulance Service, admitted the call handler misjudged the urgency. “It was classified as a dropped call. An ambulance wasn’t dispatched,” she said, adding, “This never should have happened.” She publicly apologized for the failures that left two vulnerable individuals to die, unseen and unheard.
Conclusion:
This wasn’t just a clerical error. It was a human tragedy fueled by institutional breakdown and unchecked assumptions. A mother cried out for help—and the system hung up on her. Her daughter, voiceless and isolated, was left behind in the aftermath. For four months, their absence was unnoticed.
Now, as officials express remorse and vow to reform emergency call protocols, the question lingers: how many others are calling, right now, and not being heard?
Some tragedies can’t be undone. But this one must never be repeated.