Ella suffered from severe asthma and faced numerous health challenges before passing away on February 15, 2013, just days before her seventh birthday. The government also agreed to an undisclosed financial settlement, acknowledging the impact of air pollution on public health.
In her remarks after meeting with government officials, Ella’s mother, Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, stated, “While this won’t bring Ella back, we are finally accepting what happened to her and placing the issue of air pollution firmly on the map. It is a public health crisis, and something needs to be done about it.” She expressed gratitude for the government’s commitment to continue working with her to improve air quality.
The case gained significant attention following the Dieselgate scandal, which revealed how Volkswagen obscured the true levels of emissions from their diesel vehicles. Subsequent research from the Royal College of Physicians indicated that approximately 40,000 deaths in the UK each year can be attributed to outdoor air pollution, with the burden disproportionately affecting low-income communities near busy roads and other major sources of emissions.
Ella lived just 25 meters from South Circular Road, a major traffic route on the southern edge of central London. In May 2019, the High Court dismissed the initial coroner’s findings that attributed her death solely to asthma. However, a second inquest in December 2020 concluded that acute respiratory failure and severe asthma were compounded by air pollution, which was identified as a contributing factor to her death.
Deputy Coroner Philip Barlow ruled that throughout her illness, Ella was exposed to nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter at levels exceeding World Health Organization guidelines. He also noted a “recognized failure” to bring nitrogen dioxide levels within limits set by EU and domestic laws.
Barlow emphasized that Ella’s mother had not been informed by health professionals about the health risks associated with air pollution and its potential to exacerbate asthma. “Had she been informed, she would have taken steps that could have prevented Ella’s death,” he stated.
Ella’s estate, managed by her mother, filed a lawsuit against the departments of Environment, Transport, and Health and Social Care, seeking compensation for her illness and untimely death.
The government described Ella’s death as a “tragedy” and acknowledged the significant impact of her mother’s public campaign for improved air quality. Adoo-Kissi-Debrah reported that Environment Minister Emma Hardy confirmed the government’s commitment to enacting laws that would align the UK with WHO standards.
In a statement, the government expressed, “We again take this opportunity to express our sincere regret for your loss and convey our deep condolences to you, as Ella’s mother, her siblings, and all those who knew her. Losing a loved one at such a young age is an immense loss.
