A pregnant
woman was robbed as she made her way to hospital to give birth in a
shocking attack which left her newborn baby fighting for his life., DailyMail reports.
woman was robbed as she made her way to hospital to give birth in a
shocking attack which left her newborn baby fighting for his life., DailyMail reports.
Patience
Chukwu, 40, was in labour and making her way to Homerton Hospital,
north east London, when she stopped and leaned against a wall so she
could catch her breath.
Chukwu, 40, was in labour and making her way to Homerton Hospital,
north east London, when she stopped and leaned against a wall so she
could catch her breath.
But,
as she was talking to her sister on her mobile, a thug riding a BMX
approached the expectant mother and tried to snatch her Samsung Galaxy.
as she was talking to her sister on her mobile, a thug riding a BMX
approached the expectant mother and tried to snatch her Samsung Galaxy.
The man then launched a ‘senseless’ attack on the pregnant mother, beating her repeatedly as she pleaded with him to stop.
The attack was so brutal that, when she arrived at hospital, her baby was found to have no heartbeat.
He was then forced to stay in intensive care for one week while doctors battled to save his life.
Speaking about the horrific attack, she told the Evening Standard: ‘I never expected that a heavily pregnant woman in labour would be robbed. My belly would have been huge.
‘As
he was robbing me, I was begging him: “Please, I’m in labour, please”.
That boy is wicked and I want them to catch him before he attacks
someone else.’
he was robbing me, I was begging him: “Please, I’m in labour, please”.
That boy is wicked and I want them to catch him before he attacks
someone else.’
Ms
Chukwu had left her home in north London to catch a bus to the hospital
when she was confronted by the man as she spoke to her sister – who was
her birthday partner – on the phone.
Chukwu had left her home in north London to catch a bus to the hospital
when she was confronted by the man as she spoke to her sister – who was
her birthday partner – on the phone.
She initially thought he was asking for directions, but he suddenly snatched the phone from her hand.
Ms Chukwu then attempted to fight back, grabbing the hood on the thief’s jumper to stop him fleeing from the scene.
But, as she did, she was dragged along the street behind his bike.
The expectant mother, who already has a
girl named Kishi, aged four, was rushed to hospital by ambulance where
the baby Kamsi Kishi (with whom she is pictured) was found to have no
heartbeat
girl named Kishi, aged four, was rushed to hospital by ambulance where
the baby Kamsi Kishi (with whom she is pictured) was found to have no
heartbeat
Ms
Chukwu pleaded with the man to stop, telling him she was pregnant, but
he raised his right arm to swing at her pregnant stomach.
Chukwu pleaded with the man to stop, telling him she was pregnant, but
he raised his right arm to swing at her pregnant stomach.
In
a desperate bid to shield her unborn child, Ms Chukwu bent forward,
taking the punch on her head. The thug then punched her twice more in
the face, causing her glasses to crash to the floor, before fleeing from
the scene.
a desperate bid to shield her unborn child, Ms Chukwu bent forward,
taking the punch on her head. The thug then punched her twice more in
the face, causing her glasses to crash to the floor, before fleeing from
the scene.
Ms Chukwu managed to call out to a man who was walking by, who tried to chase the culprit, but could not catch him.
Police have released an efit of the thug who launched the attack and are appealing for the public’s help in tracking him down
Ms
Chukwu added: ‘This whole incident has upset me more than I can
describe’, she said. ‘I already suffered from anxiety before this, and
now I am scared whenever a bike goes past me – it’s affecting me living
my life.’
Chukwu added: ‘This whole incident has upset me more than I can
describe’, she said. ‘I already suffered from anxiety before this, and
now I am scared whenever a bike goes past me – it’s affecting me living
my life.’
Neighbours
in Leadale Street, Stamford Hill – where the attack took place –
rushed to give Ms Chukwu a chair and water before calling police and
paramedics.
in Leadale Street, Stamford Hill – where the attack took place –
rushed to give Ms Chukwu a chair and water before calling police and
paramedics.
The
expectant mother, who already has a daughter, aged four, was rushed to
hospital by ambulance where the baby boy was found to have no heartbeat.
expectant mother, who already has a daughter, aged four, was rushed to
hospital by ambulance where the baby boy was found to have no heartbeat.
Her
son Kamsi Kishi then had to be induced and was kept in critical care
unit for a week due to complications before being allowed home. He now
suffers from seizures as a result of the attack.
son Kamsi Kishi then had to be induced and was kept in critical care
unit for a week due to complications before being allowed home. He now
suffers from seizures as a result of the attack.
‘I
was really looking forward to a happy, healthy birth, and now I cry
whenever I see my son jerking in his sleep from the stress that was
caused when he was in the womb,’ she said. ‘I worry every day whether he
will be ok.’
was really looking forward to a happy, healthy birth, and now I cry
whenever I see my son jerking in his sleep from the stress that was
caused when he was in the womb,’ she said. ‘I worry every day whether he
will be ok.’
The
attacker is described as a black man, aged between 18 and 20. He is
described as short, of medium build, with shaven hair and brown eyes.
attacker is described as a black man, aged between 18 and 20. He is
described as short, of medium build, with shaven hair and brown eyes.
Witnesses
say he was wearing a grey hooded top and has a slim face with
pronounced cheek bones and rough, pock-marked complexion.
say he was wearing a grey hooded top and has a slim face with
pronounced cheek bones and rough, pock-marked complexion.
Detective
Inspector Paul Ridley, from Hackney CID, admitted that the efit was
their last line of enquiry and that they had ‘exhausted everything’.
Inspector Paul Ridley, from Hackney CID, admitted that the efit was
their last line of enquiry and that they had ‘exhausted everything’.
‘Such
a violent, unprovoked attack on a busy street in the mid-morning is
fortunately rare, but has had devastating consequences for Patience and
her son,’ he said.
a violent, unprovoked attack on a busy street in the mid-morning is
fortunately rare, but has had devastating consequences for Patience and
her son,’ he said.
The attack took place in Leadale Road, Stamford Hill, north London, on June 26
‘All the robber got away with was a mobile phone, but the impact his actions have had will last this family a lifetime.
‘We
really need the public’s help to track down this man. We believe that
the e-fit shows a good likeness of him, so I would appeal to anyone who
knows him to get in contact with us and tell us who he is.
really need the public’s help to track down this man. We believe that
the e-fit shows a good likeness of him, so I would appeal to anyone who
knows him to get in contact with us and tell us who he is.
‘The
man who did this will have family and friends who will know who he is
and I would ask those people to come forward and tell us where to find
him. He was undoubtedly aware that she was pregnant – to use such
violence was appalling and senseless.’
man who did this will have family and friends who will know who he is
and I would ask those people to come forward and tell us where to find
him. He was undoubtedly aware that she was pregnant – to use such
violence was appalling and senseless.’
He
added: ‘There may also be other people who were in Leadale Road that
day who we have not yet spoken to, who may have seen the attack or the
suspect getting away on his bike.
added: ‘There may also be other people who were in Leadale Road that
day who we have not yet spoken to, who may have seen the attack or the
suspect getting away on his bike.
‘His
escape route is near to the River Lea so people walking their dogs or
runners may have seen him fleeing. Please get in touch as your
information may well help.’
escape route is near to the River Lea so people walking their dogs or
runners may have seen him fleeing. Please get in touch as your
information may well help.’