Tragic Drowning of Toddler Sparks Inquest and Calls for Better Care
In a heartbreaking case that has drawn attention to child welfare services, Balikis Adeoye, a Nigerian mother of two, spoke out about the tragic drowning of her two-year-old daughter, Mazeedat. The young girl drowned in a garden bin filled with water after her mother was forced to leave her with a stranger while attending her three-month-old son’s heart surgery in hospital. During an inquest held at East London Coroner's Court, Balikis recounted the circumstances leading to the tragedy on January 29, 2022. She described feeling compelled to leave Mazeedat with caregivers she did not know or trust, as she needed to support her son, who was undergoing critical medical treatment. Balikis, who moved to the UK from Nigeria in March 2021, had sought help from Newham Council’s social services four months prior to Mazeedat's death. At that time, she was classified as an overstayer and unable to access public funds due to her separation from her UK partner. Despite her pleas for a foster placement for her daughter, social workers advised her to seek help from friends rather than arranging appropriate care. “I struggle to find the words to describe the heartbreak I feel over Mazeedat's death,” Balikis said during the inquest. “She was the most beautiful and happy little girl who brought sunshine to my life. I just hope that by speaking out, other families facing the same situation don’t have to experience the same pain I will always live with.” The inquest revealed that after being reported missing on January 29, Mazeedat was discovered in a garden bin containing nine centimeters of water. A post-mortem examination concluded that her cause of death was drowning, with the coroner highlighting a “gross failure” in supervision and inadequate support from the local council. Coroner Graeme Irvine noted that if the opportunity to secure a foster placement had been acted upon, Mazeedat’s death could likely have been avoided. He stated, “Local authority child services failed to support Mazeedat's family and put in place appropriate support for Mazeedat's care.” In response to the tragedy, a spokesperson for Newham Council expressed their devastation over Mazeedat's death and acknowledged the need for improvement in their services. They confirmed that an investigation into their role had been conducted, leading to significant changes in their social work practices, which have since been recognized as "Good" by Ofsted
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