A care worker, who suffered multiple cardiac arrests after running from a gang of young people in Newry last week, has died.
Anu Okusanya passed away days after making haste from the group having been previously attacked on two other occasions in the same area, according to her heartbroken family.
The 46-year-old ran to a neighbour’s home after the incident on Sunday, August 24, but suffered an asthma attack, which led to multiple heart attacks, according to the BBC.
She died in hospital four days later.
Anu’s brother, Gbenga Oluwasanya, originally spoke to the Newry Reporter and said his sister had been walking home on her usual route to her house in Damolly Village.
“She saw some young boys beating up someone, and those young boys had already attacked her twice in the recent past – she had reported that to the police,” he said.
According to Gbenga, Anu got into the neighbour’s house and despite use of her inhaler, collapsed on the floor.
She suffered a number of cardiac arrests and was taken to Daisy Hill Hospital, where she received CPR for over an hour.
Anu’s life support machine was turned off on Wednesday evening at Craigavon Area Hospital.
“It seems everybody knows who these kids are,” said Gbenga. “The people on the street seem to know whose these kids are and people on the street tell us that the police actually know who these kids are, but of course, the police may not have had evidence of what has happened.”
Mr Oluwasanya, speaking to the BBC, added: “She thought she was running for her life, but actually, unfortunately she ran into her death.”
He explained his sister was frightened because she had been attacked in June when a boy threw liquid over her while she was walking on the street in “broad daylight”.
“So they were known to her, and that’s why she knew she had to run to protect herself,” he said.
In an earlier incident, Mr Oluwasanya said the gang followed Anu to her home and were banging on her door and “terrorising her”.
The PSNI said that when Anu became unwell – after having “witnessed an altercation” in Newry on August 24 – officers performed CPR and applied a defibrillator to try to save her life.
“She was taken to hospital but sadly passed away some days later,” said District Commander for Newry Mourne and Down Supt Norman Haslett.
“Our enquiries have established that this verbal altercation involved a number of individuals to which Anu was a witness but not directly involved,” he added.
Supt Haslett sent his “sincerest condolences” to her family and friends, adding that anyone with more information should contact the police.
A death notice said Anu is dearly missed by her loving son, Olaitan; brother Gbenga, sister Lola and all of her colleagues and friends in Ashgrove Nursing Home.
Funeral celebration will take place in Chapel of Ease Monkshill on Saturday, September 14 at 1pm, with burial afterwards in adjoining cemetery.
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