Campaigners warn of more deaths from damp housing following inquest of two-year-old

Awaab Ishak died in December 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould in the one-bedroom housing association flat where he lived with parents Faisal Abdullah and Aisha Aminin.

Mr Abdullah had previously complained to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) about the mould, an inquest at Rochdale Coroner's Court was told.

Giving her findings on Tuesday, senior coroner Joanne Kearsley said: "I'm sure I'm not alone in having thought, 'How does this happen? How, in the UK in 2020, does a two-year-old child die from exposure to mould in his home?'

"The tragic death of Awaab will and should be a defining moment for the housing sector in terms of increasing knowledge, increasing awareness and a deepening of understanding surrounding the issue of damp and mould."

Commenting on the case, Sarah Woolnough, chief executive at Asthma and Lung UK, said: "As a charity, we're deeply saddened by this case.

"Exposure to mould and damp can be very harmful to our lungs, as mould releases spores that can be breathed in, causing symptoms like coughing, wheezing, sneezing or watery eyes.

"Mould and fungi are a major trigger for asthma attacks and can worsen symptoms for those with other lung conditions, leave them fighting for breath.

"Babies, small children, older people and people with allergies are more likely to be affected.

"There is a link between poor housing and asthma, because of things like mould and damp.

"Mould and damp in houses are worse when temperatures drop in the winter and cold and flu viruses, which can cause respiratory infections, can also thrive in colder temperatures and poorly ventilated, damp environments.

"Asthma and Lung UK is warning people, people those with lung conditions to be vigilant against mould and damp, including keeping your home well ventilated."

Kwajo Tweneboa is a housing campaigner, he said: "Over the last year and a half of me campaigning, I've had over 300 individual families reach out to me, complaining, in social housing, they're living in properties filled with damp and mould. They had complained to their providers and other bodies, but we ignored and had to reach out to me.

"Often, young kids, develop issues. And I've seen it time and time again, of asthma and other adverse health conditions as a result of living in these conditions. And the simple reason is, is because they can simply get away with it."

The coroner said: "Awaab Ishak died as a result of a severe respiratory condition caused due to prolonged exposure to mould in his home environment.

"Action to treat and prevent the mould was not taken. His respiratory condition led to respiratory arrest.

"The medical advice given to his parents led to Awaab receiving suboptimal ventilation of his airway which was unable to prevent his cardiac arrest."

Ms Kearsley said the issue is "not simply a Rochdale problem".

She said she will be writing a report for the prevention of future deaths and will write to the minister for Housing, and Health Secretary Steve Barclay, to raise issues.