37-year-old Nigerian caregiver Chidimma Susan Ezenyili, known as Suzy, tragically collapsed and passed away while fulfilling her caregiving duties in Bishop’s Stortford, United Kingdom.
Suzy, a former lawyer in Nigeria, had been dedicatedly caring for 86-year-old Ian Hale for the past five months, displaying a strong commitment to her responsibilities despite facing health challenges.
According to a report, the incident unfolded on Thursday February 22, when Suzy, accompanied by her husband Friday and their three-year-old daughter Mandy, slumped on the street while on duty. Hale’s daughter, Catherine Segal, shared that Suzy, unwell at the time, didn’t want to let her elderly client down.
Despite immediate efforts from neighbors, including a frantic call to emergency services and the use of a portable defibrillator, Suzy’s life could not be saved. Two days later, on February 24, life support was turned off at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, revealing that Suzy had suffered a severe brain hemorrhage.
Hale’s daughter, Segal, expressed gratitude for the community’s swift response, acknowledging the support from neighbors, emergency services, and the critical care team. She highlighted Suzy’s selflessness and dedication to her caregiving role, emphasizing her plans to pursue legal qualifications in the UK after completing her sponsorship.
In the wake of this tragedy, Segal initiated a JustGiving appeal to assist Suzy’s husband, Friday, and their daughter Mandy. The family, who arrived in the UK in August 2023 on sponsorship visas, faces financial challenges without access to public funds. Segal emphasized Friday’s gratitude for the community’s support and stressed the importance of helping them during this difficult time.
Suzy’s dream was for her daughter, Mandy, to have opportunities in the UK that she and Friday did not have growing up in Nigeria. As the community rallies to support the grieving family, the memory of Suzy Ezenyili lives on, remembered as a compassionate caregiver and a resilient individual who aimed to build a better life for her family in the United Kingdom.