Baby in mouldy Affinity Sutton flat in Borehamwood rushed to Barnet General Hospital with bronchitis

2:50pm Friday 2nd November 2012 in News By Anna Slater

Terry in hospital Terry in hospital

A mum living in a mouldy flat said her “worst nightmare came true” after she woke up to find her ten-month-old barely breathing.

Chelsie Lankston, of Thirsk Road, Borehamwood, noticed her son Terry’s breathing was getting shallower as he slept in their mouldy and damp bedroom last night.

The 24-year-old and her partner, Daniel Mason, rushed the infant to hospital where he was diagnosed with bronchitis and given an oxygen mask.

The couple have been fighting housing association Affinity Sutton to clear up the mould because their son was constantly struck down with breathing difficulties.

Miss Lankston, a mum-of-three, said: “He was really unwell, lethargic and had a high temperature. I put him to bed but stayed in the room to check on him.

“At first he was breathing fast and making a panting sound but then it went from that to breathing slowly – you could barely hear he was breathing at all.

“It was my worst nightmare and it came true. I was panicking and screaming so we rushed him to hospital.

“The doctor actually told me this type of bronchitis could be caused by living in mouldy and damp conditions. I just could not believe it.”

The full-time mum said her son also suffers from asthma and is constantly on antibiotics for respiratory tract infections – but bronchitis is the last straw.

She previously told the Borehamwood Times that she has nightmares about waking up to find her son not breathing.

She is now forced to sleep in the lounge with Terry to avoid him being exposed to even more mould that could have a lasting effect on his health.

A representative from the housing association visited the family on Tuesday to help them come to a lasting solution, and results of a mould test carried out are still pending.

The Borehamwood Times is awaiting comment from Affinity Sutton.

Comments(9)

TFEB says...
10:01am Sat 3 Nov 12

If there is damp coming into the house from outside then Affinity Sutton should be working on this.

A lot of damp is caused by drying washing inside and not opening windows to let the moisture out. Each washing machine load dried in the house puts 2 litres of water into the air which has to go somewhere.

However what I don't understand is if this couple have mould in their home, why don't they clean it up themselves? It will keep coming back until the cause of the damp is cured but it can keep being cleaned

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martin6911 says...
12:16pm Sat 3 Nov 12

Bleach is only effective on non -porous materials so does not come into contact with mould growing beneath the surface.

lets hope Terry gets better soon and the housing association sort the problem out soon

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TFEB says...
7:28am Sun 4 Nov 12

Sensible people would use mould remover and preventer rather than bleach until the damp issue is resolved.

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poshiesymons says...
7:36pm Sun 4 Nov 12

most of the damp is to do with affinity suttons older blocks of flats such as milby court , and thirsk way having no insulation as the walls are solid concrete , and the windows may very well be double glazing but there are no trickle vents fitted in these windows. so you have to have a window permanently open in each room even in winter . ive had to re decorate my daughters room due to walls that were constantly wet and had blkack mould , white mould and even mushrooms growing out of the wall. at one point the wall paper started falling from the wall .affinitys answer was that a window must be permanently open . so now as a result my house is freezing and putting on the heating is a pointless operation .its about time affinity started taking care of their blocks of flats and not just the new builds and stratfield rd estate.

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borehamwood121 says...
1:49pm Mon 5 Nov 12

I have the same problem 3 small children in a 2 bed flat and have mould growing on the walls, ceiling, pillows etc. I clean the walls every other day and have all my windows slightly open and the heating on to try to dry the flat out. It is a pain but people who own there properties or privately rent could still have the same problem and know one is going to move them. I have problems with my health but the environmental health have said as long as its cleaned its not harmful, I would suggest cleaning the mould more often, don't dry washing on rads, lids on saucepans, close door when bathing and opening windows. If you don't do these things then the problem won't go away no matter what Affinity Sutton do. I know people in the same situation and there kids have asthma to. Hope your little boy get well soon.

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borehamwood121 says...
1:49pm Mon 5 Nov 12

I have the same problem 3 small children in a 2 bed flat and have mould growing on the walls, ceiling, pillows etc. I clean the walls every other day and have all my windows slightly open and the heating on to try to dry the flat out. It is a pain but people who own there properties or privately rent could still have the same problem and know one is going to move them. I have problems with my health but the environmental health have said as long as its cleaned its not harmful, I would suggest cleaning the mould more often, don't dry washing on rads, lids on saucepans, close door when bathing and opening windows. If you don't do these things then the problem won't go away no matter what Affinity Sutton do. I know people in the same situation and there kids have asthma to. Hope your little boy get well soon.

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mr.taxpayer says...
6:49pm Tue 6 Nov 12

Also as I mentioned in last weeks paper about this story, a dehumidifier will REALLY help get rid of all the water in your walls.

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Chelsiemason says...
7:58pm Wed 7 Nov 12

To put the record straight I do not dry washing on radiators I have my windows open and my heating on everyday the only time they are shut is when I am out I clean this mould constantly tfeb if you actually knew me you would know how clean my house is and you wouldn't be talking about my family as if we are dirty tramps I have used every mould remover product available and I used mould prevention paint when I redecorated the beginning of this year there has to be an serious problem as nothing works I don't think you have any right to judge me my son has been extremely unwell his whole young life because of the mould I have asked affinity Sutton to resolve this problem and even before I had my son I asked them to resolve it they don't look after there properties or there tenants which is why this newspaper has become involved I don't think you should be commenting on things you don't know about

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Chelsiemason says...
8:02pm Wed 7 Nov 12

Also to add to my comment I do use a dehumidifier and even still have this problem as it is not my own fault

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