Calls for independent inquiry into boy's death

Zane Gbangbola died at the age of seven during floods in Chertsey in 2014

The parents of a seven-year-old boy who died during severe floods have delivered a message to Downing Street calling for an independent inquiry on what would have been his 18th birthday.

Zane Gbangbola died after the River Thames flooded his home in Chertsey in Surrey in 2014.

His parents Kye Gbangbola and Nicole Lawler disputed the results of a 2016 inquest that he died of carbon monoxide poisoning and are calling on Sir Keir Starmer to grant an independent panel inquiry into the death.

A government spokesperson said: “Throughout the inquest the Environment Agency and others provided detailed evidence to assist the independent coroner in reaching his conclusions."

Zane's parents say their son was killed by gas washed out from a former landfill site in Chertsey.

They are handing in a petition to Downing Street signed by over 118,000 people demanding an independent inquiry.

Mr Gbangbola told BBC Radio Surrey: "Never did we think we'd be begging for justice over the death of our child."

Ian Murray, (left) from the Fire Brigades Union and Zane's parents handed in a petition at 10 Downing Street

Ms Lawler said: “We just want the truth for our son. We don’t want anyone else to have to suffer what we are suffering.

"The truth must come out.

"We must have no more deaths from contaminated land.”

She added: "We shouldn't be at Downing Street today.

"Zane should have been buying his first legal pint with his father on his 18th birthday."

A government spokesperson said: “The case of Zane Gbangbola is tragic, and our thoughts remain with the Gbangbola family."

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