A family is fighting for a law change after a tragic delay in reporting a death left them without answers
Prestwich: A family is heartbroken and frustrated after losing Kimberley McAssey, a young mum, nearly four years ago. They’re pushing for a law change to prevent similar tragedies.
Kimberley died on February 20, 2021, but it took 30 hours for anyone to call for help. This delay meant her cause of death couldn’t be determined, leaving her family in the dark.
Now, they’re advocating for ‘Kimberley’s Law’ to make it a crime to delay notifying emergency services about a death. Her sister, Rea, hopes this will stop other families from suffering like theirs.
During the inquest, it was revealed that Kimberley had been with Ryan Sheridan, who didn’t call for help when she became unresponsive. Instead, his mother called 999 the next day.
Mr. Sheridan was worried about getting in trouble due to the drugs they had taken. He admitted he panicked and didn’t want to be arrested. The coroner noted that his delay was a conscious choice.
Rea expressed that if they had called for help sooner, they might have known what happened to Kimberley. The delay left her body in such bad shape that the post-mortem couldn’t provide answers.
Kimberley’s mother, Karrie, shared a chilling comment from the undertaker about how decomposed Kimberley was. She was a beloved mother and aunt, and her family misses her dearly.
Mr. Sheridan, who was already on bail for assault, didn’t show up for the inquest. The coroner criticized his actions, calling them cowardly and showing a lack of care for Kimberley.
The family has started a petition to make it a criminal offense to delay calling emergency services, and it’s already gained over 1,100 signatures. They’re determined to see change.
