The family of 13-year-old Joy Osundeko, who died after her ventilator was switched off, is still waiting for answers more than four years later, as an investigation into the incident continues.
Joy Osundeko, who had downs syndrome and other serious medical conditions, required around-the-clock care at her family home in St Helens, Merseyside, England. She died on June 13, 2022, after suffering a stroke.
Her family has since taken legal action against Optima Health and Social Care Ltd, the company that employed the nurse involved in the incident.
The incident happened on the morning of February 15, 2022, after two carers arrived at the family’s home around 8 a.m. Joy’s father, Mayo, had spent the night looking after his daughter.
About an hour later, her mother, Bisi, entered Joy’s bedroom and realized something was wrong.
Mayo rushed upstairs and found his daughter ‘completely lifeless’ after her ventilator had been switched off. CCTV footage later showed a nurse turning off the machine.
“I grabbed the bag, removed the ventilator from the trachea, and manually provided oxygen to Joy myself,” he said, according to LADbible.
“The nurse moved out of the way. I kept providing oxygen but Joy was like a baby doll. I was screaming her name. It took almost a minute before Joy started breathing again.”
“We were horrified”
According to the family, the nurse initially said the ventilator had been switched off for only a few seconds. However, footage show the carer pressing and holding a button twice before touching the screen as the machine made a sound and shut down.
“When we watched the CCTV footage we were horrified and extremely upset to see the ventilator had been switched off for close to six minutes,” Mayo explained.
Joy was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where she remained for nine days. Her parents say her condition worsened significantly after the incident, with changes in her movement and overall health.
“Joy always liked throwing her hands and legs up in the air but her hands and legs, in particular her right leg, was not moving as much as it had done previously,” Mayo said.
“Her leg became difficult to move. We also noticed in a change in her body and a deterioration in her general health. She no longer smiled.”
Joy later died following a stroke. Her family has maintained that the ventilator incident was followed by a serious decline in her health.
Still searching for answers years later
Optima Health and Social Care Ltd admitted breaching its duty of care in connection with the ventilator being switched off. However, the company denied that the incident caused Joy any injury or contributed to her death.
The company subsequently agreed to an out-of-court damages settlement with the family.
A police investigation initially resulted in charges against the nurse, and a criminal trial was scheduled. However, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed in December 2025 that it would no longer pursue a prosecution. The family also sought an inquest into Joy’s death, but that request was rejected.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council is now investigating the incident.
Maria Repanos, a solicitor at Hudgell Solicitors, said: “Joy’s parents have understandably been left absolutely devastated and today, more than four years on, they still have no explanation as to how and why this happened.”
For Bisi, the loss of her daughter has been devastating.
“We have never received any form of explanation from the nurse as to how she could possibly have made such a serious mistake,” the mom added. “An explanation is the least we are owed.”
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