Moment nurse switches off disabled girl’s life-saving ventilator

DAILYMAIL.COM • 2h ago

By JADA BAS, REPORTER 15:45 08 Oct 2026, updated 17:58 08 Oct 2026

This is the moment a nurse mistakenly turned off the ‘s life-saving ventilator of a severely disabled 13-year-old girl, who died four months later.

Joy Osundeko had Down’s syndrome and several serious medical conditions which meant she required round-the-clock care at her home in St Helens, Merseyside.

The young girl could not breathe on her own and needed ventilation at all times, but shocking CCTV footage from February 2022 shows the nurse pressing a button on the machine until the monitor goes dark and it makes a sound as it shuts down.

Her mother Bisi Osundeko was in the next room at the time of the incident and screamed in despair when she found her daughter ‘completely lifeless’.

She and her husband Mayo desperately tried to resuscitate her while the nurse stood back. The machine had been off for nearly six minutes.

Mr Osundeko said: ‘I was extremely concerned and so I jumped out of bed.

‘It only took me approximately five seconds to jump down the stairs and run to the bed but Joy was already completely lifeless.

‘I grabbed the bag, removed the ventilator from the trachea and manually provided oxygen to Joy myself.

‘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.

‘Whilst I was fighting to get Joy breathing again, I wondered why she had stopped and why the alarm hadn’t sounded before. I then looked at the ventilator and saw that it was off.’

He then discovered the ventilator had been switched off and his wife had to turn everything back on.

He continued: ‘When I asked the nurse why it was switched off, she kept saying “I don’t know, I don’t know”, and that she was “so sorry”.

‘The nurse told us initially that the ventilator had only been off for a few seconds but 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.’

The mother-of-one told Good Morning Britain: ‘It was the sort of thing you wish you cannot see. She was gasping, struggling to breathe.

‘The shock for us was that the machine was switched off… Joy lost her spark after that incident.’

Joy survived the terrifying ordeal but her condition declined significantly and her family say she was never the same again.

The care company responsible has admitted the ventilator was switched off by ‘accident’ but denies the incident caused Joy’s death or any injury.

The grieving father said: ‘Joy always liked throwing her hands and legs up in the air but her hands and legs, in particular her right leg, were not moving as much as it had done previously.

‘Her leg became difficult to move. We also noticed a change in her body and a deterioration in her general health. She no longer smiled.’

She spent nine days in hospital following the incident but ultimately died four months later following her 14th birthday, after suffering a stroke which caused brain stem death.

The nurse was charged but these were then dropped. Prosecutors reportedly said a lack of evidence meant wilful intent to cause Joy harm could not be proven.

The nurse has continued to work elsewhere but under supervision.

Mrs Osundeko went on to say she was ‘very upset’ and felt ‘let down’ by the legal system.

She said: ‘We called her Joy because she brought it into our lives and her smile could light up any room.’

She added: ‘What happened to her, and to us, was completely unacceptable. We feel completely failed by the system and we will keep fighting for answers as to how this could have happened.

‘The pain of losing our daughter is unbearable. It can’t be left here.

‘We have never received any form of explanation from the nurse as to how she could possibly have made such a serious mistake.

‘An explanation is the least we are owed.’

The family launched legal action against Optima Health and Social Care Ltd, which employed the nurse.

The company admitted breaching its duty of care over the ventilator being switched off but denied that the incident caused Joy any injury or contributed to her death.

It subsequently agreed an out-of-court damages settlement with the family.

A police investigation initially led to charges against the nurse and a criminal trial being listed.

But the CPS confirmed in December 2025 that it would no longer pursue a prosecution.

The family’s subsequent request for an inquest was also rejected, with the coroner citing the time elapsed since Joy’s death and the lack of vital evidence following her cremation.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council is now investigating the incident.

Solicitor Maria Repanos, of 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.’

Meghan steps into the limelight: Duchess leaves Claridge’s wearing £28,000 outfit accompanied by…

Three sisters who drowned at Brighton beach died in suicide pact after visiting place where their…

Zara Tindall reveals how her tough-love upbringing with Princess Anne and ‘critical’ Mark Phillips…

Husband of ‘murdered’ royal GP ‘hit her over head with an axe and strangled her during children’s…

Violent ‘traveller burglary squads’ suspected of 50 house break-ins as Met Police accused of failing…

Three years after images of their kidnap shocked the world Noa Argamani’s ex-boyfriend describes his…

Andrew WINS High Court battle as police admit raids on Sandringham and Windsor were unlawful

Disabled woman, 87, dies two weeks after forced eviction that sparked mass housing protests and…

Earl Spencer criticises Princess Anne for ‘making me feel small’ with withering response to question…

Estate agent left with £200,000 court bill after losing battle with millionaire former rally driver…

Coronation Street and Brookside actor Eric Potts faces prison after being found with indecent images…

Prince Harry reveals he ‘slipped into depression’ after Megxit as he opens up in candid interview…

Unheard Princess Diana tapes may give her view on Earl Spencer’s explosive claims about King Charles…

Jaw-dropping new bodycam shows boy, 6, curse and threaten cops moments after he shot his teacher…

Stepfather ‘who had sex with effigy of 19-year-old before killing her went on beach walk with her…

Britain’s new breed of ‘boy racers’ risking YOUR lives for kicks and clicks: MIMI YATES goes…

Moment nurse switches off disabled girl’s life-saving ventilatorComments are subject to our House rules and TermsNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}}

No one seems to have shared their thoughts on this topic yetLeave a comment so your voice will be heard first.

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{#replies.comments}}{{^isLast}}{{initials}}{{userAlias}}, United Kingdom, {{formattedDateAndTime}}{{message}}

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{/isLast}}{{#isLast}}{{initials}}{{userAlias}}, United Kingdom, {{formattedDateAndTime}}{{message}}

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{/isLast}}{{/replies.comments}}{{/replies.totalCount}}{{^replies.totalCount}}{{initials}}{{userAlias}}, United Kingdom, {{formattedDateAndTime}}{{message}}

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{/replies.totalCount}}{{/isComment}}The opinions and views expressed in the comments section are solely those of the individual users and do not represent or reflect the opinions, views, or positions of MailOnline. MailOnline does not endorse, support, or verify the accuracy of any user-generated content.Terms|Privacy|FeedbackOldest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}}