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To: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer & Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood

CALL FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND INDEPENDENT PANEL INQUIRY INTO THE DEATH OF 7 YEAR OLD ZANE

Potential Risk Arising From Toxic Gas In Landfills

We are calling for a truthful public debate and investigation into the tragic death of 7 year old Zane Gbangbola, who died when hydrogen cyanide was found in his home as floodwater rose beneath.

Why is this important?

Zane died in his home on 8 February 2014, a day after his home in Chertsey was hit by severe floods. His parents Nicole and Kye were hospitalised in a critical condition.

Evidence suggests the cause of Zane’s death was hydrogen cyanide, a toxic gas that can lurk in unregulated landfill - like the one by their house - released from the ground by mixing with floodwater. But it took Public Health England 14 weeks to confirm to the family that hydrogen cyanide was indeed found in their flooded house. And despite this the pathologist was never told to test Zane’s blood for hydrogen cyanide.

Nicole and Kye are bereaved parents who deserve to know what really happened to their son. They have been left ‘broken’ by the death of their son and frustrated by the lack of answers.

Zane's father Kye, who was left paralysed from the same incident and whose diagnosis is paraplegia due to Hydrogen Cyanide poisoning, says:

“We really want to push and find answers because it is wrong that these risks can occur. Ideally this is something we would like to be able to highlight nationally. This deadly gas has come from somewhere, the authorities need to admit its presence, investigate its source and act to prevent more deaths and illness. 

We miss Zane every second of the day and all those who spent time with Zane commented that Zane was a truly remarkable boy. We would not want anyone else to experience this pain and burden of a living hell”.

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Updates

2017-03-31 14:41:28 +0100

The Green Party has joined calls for an independent panel inquiry into the death of seven-year-old Zane Gbangbola, who died in 2014 after his home in Surrey was flooded. https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2017/03/28/green-party-calls-for-inquiry-into-death-of-schoolboy-as-‘hillsborough-law’-bill-reaches-parliament/

2017-03-31 14:26:43 +0100

A Seven-Year-Old Is Dead - Why Did The Inquest Produce More Questions Than Answers? Article by Jonathan Bartley Green Party Co Leader
The authorities involved in this investigation must be held accountable. We must make sure the truth emerges, for Zane himself, for Kye and Nicole, and for every single person in the UK living next to a landfill site, whether they know it or not. A tragedy like this must never happen again.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/jonathan-bartley/zane-gbangbola_b_15686534.html

2017-03-30 09:21:25 +0100

Historic Bill Presented to Parliament. New Public Authority (Accountability) "Hillsborough Law" can stop more families suffering - historic bill will make it a criminal offence for police officers and other public authorities to cover up wrongdoing and give bereaved families the same resources to make their case at inquests will be presented to Parliament 29 March 2017. http://www.truthaboutzane.com/updates/-historic-hillsborough-law-presented-to-parliament

2017-03-12 13:59:06 +0000

BAFTA-winning English naturalist, writer and television presenter, best known for BBC TV's Deadly 60 Steve Backshall and his wife, Olympic champion rower Helen Glover, took a moment as they passed along the Thames, to show their support for Zane's parents and their fight for the TruthAboutZane. Read more here:
http://www.truthaboutzane.com/updates/environmentalist-steve-backshall-and-olympic-gold-medalist-helen-glover-show-support-for-truth-about-zane

2017-02-10 22:46:11 +0000

Three years on from tragedy, fireworks light up the sky for Zane.
"Today we reach out to the other side of pain and injustice that closed Zane's eyes, to a space where we can celebrate and remember Zane,"
Read more and see the short video here: http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/zane-gbangbola-fireworks-tribute-schoolboy-12580329

2017-02-03 16:47:40 +0000

Grieving parents of Zane Gbangbola go to Parliament to speak at the Justice Summit. They join forces with Hillsborough Family Support Group, the Orgreave Truth And Justice Campaign and Justice4the21 Campaign, Shrewsbury 24 Campaign, Sean Rigg Justice & Change Campaign, amongst others to support the call for ‘Hillsborough Law’. http://www.truthaboutzane.com/updates/grieving-parents-of-zane-gbangbola-go-to-parliament-to-speak-at-the-justice-summit

2016-09-18 13:55:04 +0100

Shadow Home Secretary has attacked the 'seriously flawed' inquest

Please read todays full article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3794537/Justice-Zane-New-hope-parents-blamed-death-flood-tragedy-son-MP-attacks-seriously-flawed-inquest.html

2016-09-13 13:34:17 +0100

Emotional scenes outside Woking Coroner's Court as Zane's parents fight for #TruthAboutZane http://www.truthaboutzane.com/updates/our-love-for-zane-keeps-us-going-emotional-scenes-outside-woking-coroners-court

2016-07-24 07:02:02 +0100

Inquest shock: Pathologist investigating death of seven-year-old boy tells coroner that police failed to reveal high levels of cyanide gas in child's flooded home.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3705032/Inquest-shock-Pathologist-investigating-death-seven-year-old-boy-tells-coroner-police-failed-reveal-high-levels-cyanide-gas-child-s-flooded-home.html

2016-06-07 16:16:22 +0100

BREAKING NEWS: Gbangbola family denied legal aid for the third time just days before inquest into their son Zane's death http://www.lbc.co.uk/turth-about-zane-tragic-boys-parents-talk-to-lbc-128315/

AND ALSO

http://news.sky.com/story/1708000/family-help-us-fund-lawyer-for-sons-inquest

2016-06-05 08:22:22 +0100

BBC News video - Zane's parents say they need a MIRACLE with no legal aid  and only 5 working days before the inquest begins - Truth About Zane http://www.truthaboutzane.com/1/post/2016/06/zanes-parents-say-they-need-a-miracle-with-no-legal-aid.html

2016-06-02 08:03:38 +0100

UPDATE: With 11 days to go and no Legal Aid granted for legal representation, Zane's parents appear on BBC The One Show. With no Legal Aid and only half the money raised, Zane's parents have written and spoken to everyone and anyone who will listen to try and get answers for their son. Another application has been submitted to the LAA. This will be the third time after the original and appeal were refused. http://www.truthaboutzane.com/updates/zanes-parents-on-the-one-show

2016-05-29 07:54:28 +0100

Tragic flood boy's parents MUST be given legal aid, demands coroner in 'cyanide' inquest that's so complicated even he has his own (publicly financed) barrister)

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3614558/Tragic-flood-boy-s-parents-given-legal-aid-demands-coroner-cyanide-inquest-s-complicated-publicly-financed-barrister.html#ixzz4A1cuzvg3

2016-05-23 08:07:41 +0100

Criminologist Professor Phil Scraton who was central to revealing The Truth about Hillsborough says that the parents of Zane Gbangbola should get legal aid. Please listen to his interview yesterday with LBC Tom Swarbrick - http://www.lbc.co.uk/hillsborough-expert-weighs-in-to-tragic-child-death-case-130976

2016-05-06 12:35:17 +0100

Hillsborough Verdict a Warning to Authorities on Failings and Cover Ups

The 96 Liverpool fans who tragically died at Hillsborough have finally been recognised as victims of ‘unlawful killing’. I have the highest respect for the friends and families of the victims who fought for years for this recognition for their loved ones. This historic case proves that neglect and cover ups by authorities will not be tolerated, those who are wronged will not be silenced until the truth is recognised.

We must find out the Truth About Zane and we must learn lessons to protect others from suffering the same fate.

The people of surrey and all those and all those in areas touched by flooding must stand by the Gbangbola family, as the people of Liverpool did for the victims of Hillsborough. We must not rest until justice is served. We hope it will not take the agonising 27 years that the Hillsborough families suffered, but if it does we must be there.