A Nigerian lawyer who migrated to the UK to work as a caregiver and provide a better life for her daughter died after collapsing on the street.
Chidimma Susan Ezenyili, also known as Suzy, was a 37-year-old lawyer in Nigeria who moved to the UK in August 2023 with her husband Friday and their three-year-old daughter Mandy. They came on sponsorship visas to work as caregivers, a profession that is in high demand in the UK due to the aging population and the shortage of qualified staff.
Suzy had been caring for Ian Hale, an 86-year-old man in Bishop’s Stortford, for the past five months. She was not feeling well herself, but she did not want to let her client down. She drove to his house with her husband and daughter on February 22, 2024.
A Shocking Collapse
As she was walking to Hale’s door, she suddenly collapsed and stopped breathing. Her husband started shouting for help, and the neighbors rushed to the scene. Two first responders from the GoodSAM app, a platform that connects volunteers with medical emergencies, arrived shortly after to assist. They were followed by several ambulances, police, and the critical care team.
Suzy was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where doctors discovered that she had suffered a severe brain hemorrhage. She was put on life support, but there was no hope for her recovery. Two days later, on February 24, she passed away with her husband by her side.
Hale’s daughter, Catherine Segal, who witnessed the incident, said Suzy was a “really good carer” who was “kind, considerate, and always willing to help”. She said Suzy had a dream of becoming a lawyer in the UK and giving her daughter a good education.
A Community in Mourning
The tragic death of Suzy has shocked and saddened the community of Bishop’s Stortford, where she lived and worked. A crowdfunding campaign has been set up to help her family with the funeral costs and the repatriation of her body to Nigeria. The campaign has raised over £10,000 in less than a week, surpassing its initial goal of £5,000.
The campaign organizer, Elisha Newberry, who was Suzy’s manager at Care at Hand Ltd, a Harlow-based care agency, said Suzy was a “lovely lady” who was “always smiling and happy”. She said Suzy was “very popular” among her clients and colleagues, and that she will be “greatly missed”.
Newberry also said that Suzy’s death has highlighted the challenges and risks that caregivers face in their work, especially during the pandemic. She said caregivers are “unsung heroes” who deserve more recognition and support for their vital role in society.
A Hope for Change
Suzy’s story has also drawn attention to the plight of many migrants who come to the UK to work as caregivers, often leaving behind their families and careers in their home countries. According to the Office for National Statistics, there were about 1.6 million caregivers in the UK in 2023, of which 16% were born outside the UK. Many of them work long hours for low wages, and face discrimination, exploitation, and isolation.
However, there are also signs of hope and change for the future of the care sector. The UK government has recently announced a new immigration route for overseas caregivers, which will allow them to apply for a visa without a job offer or a sponsor. The government has also pledged to invest £500 million in training and professional development for caregivers, and to introduce a national living wage for them.
Moreover, there are many initiatives and organizations that aim to improve the working conditions and well-being of caregivers, such as the Care Workers’ Charity, the National Association of Care and Support Workers, and the Care Friends app. These groups provide financial, emotional, and social support to caregivers, as well as opportunities for learning and recognition.
Suzy’s death is a tragic reminder of the sacrifices and hardships that caregivers endure, but also of the compassion and dedication that they show. Her legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of those who knew her, and in the hope that her story will inspire positive change for the care sector and the society.
Source: Vanguard
