Ella Kissi-Debrah’s mother pays emotional tribute to ‘precious’ daughter who ‘continues to make history’

The Mother of a nine-year-old girl who died from air pollution has given an emotional tribute to her ‘precious’ daughter who ‘continues to make history.’

Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, from Forest Hill in Lewisham, became the first person in the UK to have air pollution listed as the cause of death on her death certificate, following the landmark inquest ruling last December.

Her mother Rosamund Kissi-Debrah-Debrah paid tribute to her daughter during a press conference today after a coroner’s report urged a change in the law following her death.

“It has been a long journey,” she said.

“I asked the public to support me to convince the corona to quash the first inquest and to hold another inquest.

“Then we had Covid-19, had the inquest, won the inquest and today is the end of a chapter, but not completely.

“For all she [Ella] suffered, she has done good.

“Ella suffered horrendously and many people – six hospitals – tried to keep her alive but didn’t manage it.

“I feel today that we have achieved what we started out to achieve.

“I said to people that if Ella wins, then everyone else wins – and she’s won for today.”

The Prevent Future Deaths report from Philip Barlow, assistant coroner for Inner South London, said Ella’s fatal asthma attack revealed a much wider threat and that action was needed to prevent further deaths.

Mr Barlow urged the government to reduce existing legally binding targets for particulate matter pollution to bring them in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

Rosamund said: “For today I can do no more. This is really complicated and it takes those in charge to implement things.

“I want to say that I am incredibly proud of Ella and how she fought so incredibly hard.

“If she was here today she would be incredibly proud.

“She already made history back in December and I hope that for today she continues to make history.

“I hope that people will look at her life and know how precious life is.

“Her brutal death is something I am learning to live with all the time.

“I am not a doctor and I was lucky for all the times I managed to resuscitate her.

“Life can be very short and very cruel but I want everyone to take a moment today to thank Ella.

“Through her dying, we were here today. It is through suffering that we have got to where we are today.

“She will always be very precious to us and she always wanted her siblings not to forget her.

“I hope today everyone will remember her.”

Mr Barlow’s report into Ella’s death expresses his concern about the lack of legally binding air quality targets, lack of public information and appropriate doctor training.

Jocelyn Cockburn of Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors, the family’s lawyer, said: “Rosamund embarked on her legal journey in order to find out why Ella died.

“She achieved this in December when the Coroner handed down his conclusions.

“Today, she has reached another milestone in her legal journey. Because of Ella’s inquest there has been an investigation into current practices which continue to pose a danger to health and present a risk of future deaths.”

The report will be sent to Government departments and other public and professional bodies.