A tragic story out of Nottinghamshire, England has shocked the UK and raised urgent questions about how emergency services handle vulnerable families.
In May 2024, Alphonsine Djiako Leuga (47) and her daughter Loraine Choulla (18) were found dead inside their home—four months after Alphonsine had made a desperate 999 emergency call that tragically went unanswered.
📞 A Desperate Plea
Alphonsine, who had been battling a lower respiratory tract infection and lived with sickle cell anaemia, called 999, begging:
“Would you send an ambulance? Please come, please.”
Mom Alphonsine Djiako Leuga and her daughter, Loraine Choulla (Family Handout)
But the call abruptly ended, and because follow-up attempts failed, it was wrongly categorized as an abandoned call. No ambulance was ever dispatched. According to BBC News, it’s likely Alphonsine passed away shortly after making that call.
💔 A Daughter Left Alone
Alphonsine’s daughter, Loraine, who had Down’s syndrome and learning disabilities, was fully dependent on her mom. After Alphonsine’s death, Loraine was left to fend for herself in the house. The last activity on her tablet was recorded on February 28, and she likely passed away before her 18th birthday in April.
The cause of death for Alphonsine was listed as pneumonia of uncertain cause, while Loraine died of malnutrition and dehydration—a harrowing reflection of weeks spent alone without care.
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🚨 Missed Opportunities by Authorities
An inquest heard damning evidence that multiple services—including social care, police, and ambulance services—missed key opportunities to intervene.
Assistant Coroner Amanda Bewley said:
“Had an ambulance been sent, Loraine would most probably still be alive today.”
An explanation for what happened was given during an inquiry this week (Jacob King/PA Images via Getty )
Social workers had previously visited the family home, and in 2023, it was noted to be clean and stocked with food. But in May, the scene was heartbreaking: moldy food, a “den” Loraine had made between two beds, and signs she had struggled alone for weeks.
A passerby—not a professional—eventually alerted police to the deaths, which Bewley described as “astonishing.”
🛠️ What’s Being Done?
Following the inquiry, East Midlands Ambulance Service issued an apology, saying:
“We are truly sorry… We’ve made policy and training changes to ensure this never happens again.”
The full statement is available on EMAS’s official site.
💡 Why This Matters
This story is more than just a tragedy—it’s a call to action. With better coordination between emergency services, local councils, and healthcare providers, lives like Alphonsine’s and Loraine’s can be saved.
Let’s hope that the reforms sparked by this loss truly change the system for the better.
