Family heartbreak after Romford young mum's sudden death

Daniella Dunmore, 30, who lived in Cross Road with her partner Reggie and their baby Ronnie. died in the early hours of January 24.

Reggie's mum Denise Roworth said Daniella suffered a seizure.

The Recorder had reported on their living conditions just last month, with Daniella raising concerns about black mould in the home.

She told this paper she had been having seizures around once a fortnight, including one incident where she was taken to hospital.

Daniella claimed this was from the continuing stress of living with mould.

Reggie told the Recorder he believes this stress contributed to her death.

"There's just so many problems," he said. "She just had a heavy amount of stress on her, trying to look after her son, and get the flat sorted."

"She loved her family, she loved them to bits," Denise added.

"She was a good mum and a fantastic partner to my son. Her life was for these two and getting out of that property."

The Recorder has previously seen an email from a specialist nurse at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust to Daniella in which they acknowledged that mould could contribute to stress-induced seizures.

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Photos supplied by Daniella before her death showing black mould in her home (Image: Daniella Dunmore)

Havering Council said on Monday (February 5) it was sorry to hear about the sudden death of Daniella and that it could not comment on the cause of her death.

It said it had been aware of the issues in her property and showed the Recorder photos showing a wall without mould on following a wash visit it made last September.

"We have been working with Daniella over a number of years to carry out mould washes to alleviate the growth of mould which, reports show, was minor seasonal mould caused by condensation," a council spokesperson said.

The council added that a contractor visited in January 2024 to make minor repairs to the front doors and raise the windows, and claimed it was an employee who called the ambulance in response to her seizure.

"We will continue to do all we can to support Daniella's family during this very difficult time," the spokesperson added.

But Denise said that the family has since left the property, which she and Reggie claim is still mould-ridden, to protect Ronnie.

The 56-year-old said she went to the home just before Christmas and claimed a bedroom wardrobe affected by mould fell down "like a pack of cards".

It will be at least 12 weeks before the family can have a funeral, Denise said, since she claimed the coroner has asked to do a toxic test to establish Daniella's cause of death.

Reggie has been unable to go back in their bedroom, Denise added.

"He's traumatised by it all," she said.