Heartbroken Parents Advocate for Child Safety After Tragic Nursery Incident
A couple devastated by the loss of their baby at a nursery have expressed their belief that his life could have been saved. Oliver Steeper, who tragically passed away at the Jelly Beans Day Nursery in Ashford, Kent, in September 2021, suffered a brain injury and heart attack six days after choking on food.
Young Oliver was placed on life support at the Evelina Children’s Hospital in London but sadly did not survive. Lewis, 39, and Zoe, 34, the courageous parents, have since welcomed a new son named Jake and launched the Oliver Steeper Foundation in memory of their late child.
The foundation aims to provide nurseries with free LifeVac tools, which cost between £60 and £80 each. This device works by using a handle attached to an airtight mask to effectively remove obstructions from a choking person’s airway.
Lewis believes that if the nursery staff had a LifeVac device, Oliver might still be alive today. The makers of the device have claimed it has already saved 1,232 lives. Lewis, a lorry driver, described the device as simple yet incredibly effective, requiring just one straightforward hand movement.
The couple’s mission is to ensure that every nursery and childminder in the UK is equipped with a LifeVac. Once this goal is achieved, they intend to extend their efforts to schools, care homes, and restaurants. Lewis stressed the importance of widespread coverage, as the risk of choking exists anywhere humans are present.
Lewis emphasized, “We truly believe that if every nursery had one, then Oliver would still be here.” To honor their late son, the LifeVac devices provided to nurseries will carry a sticker displaying Oliver’s name and photo.
The couple’s dedication to child safety has led them to advocate against the relaxation of teacher-child ratios in nurseries. Lewis expressed concerns about policymakers who might lack firsthand experience with local nurseries due to their privileges, emphasizing the importance of real-world understanding in such matters.
Following Oliver’s tragic death, the Jelly Beans Day Nursery’s registration was suspended by Ofsted, and the nursery has since closed its doors. An investigation was conducted by the police, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) determined that there was insufficient evidence for a prosecution. A comprehensive inquest into the incident is pending.
The Steeper family remains committed to their mission, striving to prevent similar tragedies and create safer environments for children across the UK.