Parents of a little girl who was crushed in a fireplace fire while she was playing in her living area say that they reported it to the landlord but were not able to get any action.
Alexa Leigh Blakemore (six years old), was brought to Liverpool’s hospital after she sustained serious head injuries.
A primary school pupil was placed into an induced sleep coma. Since then, she is in intensive care.
Alexa Leigh, affectionately known as ‘Lexi,’ was injured in an accident to the brain. Her parents called her ‘Lexi.’ She lost all hearing in one ear, and now is blind in one eye.
The doctors are unable to tell if she can walk again, or how severe her brain damage is.
Elle Williams and her parents Keiran Blakemore said they complained about their fireplace, but no action was taken.
They spoke about their frustration and pain in an interview for ITV News. The couple said that their daughter had been “robbed of her lives”.
It comes as a report by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) reveals that substandard housing is costing the NHS £1.4billion a year.
Alexa Leigh Blakemore (pictured), 6 years old, is nicknamed Lexi by her family. She sustained severe head injuries after the car accident in Liverpool on September 10.
Lexi’s father Keiran Blakemore speaking to ITV News Political Correspondent Daniel Hewitt. He said: ‘The landlord didn’t do the job and now, 8 months later, my daughter’s pulled it on herself’
Lexi’s mother, Elle, said: ‘It was horrible, that’s all I can say. It’s heartbreaking.
‘I’m angry. I’m angry and I’m hurting, my daughter’s now been robbed of her life. She had a completely normal life and she’ll never be normal again.’
Keiran, Elle’s partner in crime and Lexi’s father claims she tripped, reaching for the fireplace to get her balance and causing the fireplace to break off the wall.
He stated that he was annoyed by the fact that he reported it to him in April.
‘The landlord just didn’t do the job and now, eight months later, my daughter’s pulled it on herself and injured herself to the point where she’s got brain damage and will never be the same again.’
Keiran added: “She was happy, normal little girl who gained a following through social media. Now I will never see her dancing again.”
The accident was being investigated by the Merseyside Police and there have not been any criminal charges.
Meanwhile, a report by the BRE shows approximately £857million is spent by the NHS on health problems caused by overly cold homes.
Lexi’s mother Elle Williams said: ‘I’m angry. I’m angry and I’m hurting, my daughter’s now been robbed of her life. She had a completely normal life and she’ll never be normal again’
Lexi, mother Elle and father Keiran with little sister Luna Rae. Keiran stated that Lexi was “a normal, happy little girl who gained a lot of attention on social media. I will never again see her dancing.”
Lexi fell onto the fireplace. Keiran’s father claims that Lexi tripped over the fireplace and reached for it to get her balance. The fireplace fell on Lexi.
Around £374 million is spent treating injuries from falls brought about by dangerous conditions, and roughly £38million is contributed towards residents suffering from the effects of damp.
Referring to the report, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: ‘We have a housing challenge in this country – it’s been longstanding over many years – I was previously the Housing Secretary.
“We’ve created many avenues to address this housing crisis. Some parts of the country are particularly affected, like London or Cornwall.
“And I think that our record investment in affordable housing, the improvements to the planning system and the Help to Buy programme – all this is part of helping people to get a house, regardless of whether they are renting or purchasing it.