'We still don't know how our amazing daughter died'

The family of a young mother who lay dead for 30 hours before emergency services were called have told of their heartbreak as they campaign for a law change four years later.

Kimberley McAssey, 29, had been drinking and taking drugs with her friend Ryan Sheridan before she was found unresponsive in his bed in February 2021.

Instead of immediately calling an ambulance, an inquest heard Sheridan first contacted his mother, who also delayed and went out to buy sandwiches before eventually dialling 999.

The time that passed meant it was impossible to determine the mother-of-one's cause of death - meaning her family will always have unanswered questions.

Kimberley's family said they were "shocked and angry" to learn there is currently no law in England that compels someone to get help in an emergency unless there is a duty of care.

Now, the relatives, from Prestwich, Greater Manchester, have launched a campaign calling on the government to make it always a crime to purposely delay ringing the emergency services in a medical emergency so "no other family has to suffer the way they have".

"It's a huge loss to us all. Even now I find it hard to believe she's still not here I have to just think she's somewhere else," Kimberley's mother Karrie McAssey said.

Kimberley had visited Sheridan, who she had known for a number of years, on the night of 19 February 2021, an inquest in November 2024 heard.

According to police interviews with Sheridan, the pair had a drink before taking a MDMA provided by Sheridan and moving to the bedroom for sex.

Coroner Joanne Kearsley concluded that Kimberley would have been "virtually unresponsive" by the end of that activity.

She said Sheridan realised Kimberley had died "at a time no later than 6am" on 20 February and took no action for a further 30 hours.

The coroner concluded that the delay had been a "conscious and calculated decision on Mr Sheridan's part".

The first person he contacted was his mother Emma Heydon, who eventually called 999 on 21 February.

However, the court heard she had first gone out and bought milk and sandwiches "so he could eat before he was taken into police custody", actions the coroner described as "even more callous" than Sheridan's.

"People do panic. I can understand that but to go out and get food and come back and sit and eat food, it's unbelievable," Kimberley's auntie Shelly Crooks said.

Her mother said she was notified of Kimberley's death on the evening of 21 February and told she had died at someone's flat that night.

At the time, Sheridan had been on bail since 14 February after he was arrested for assaulting his ex-girlfriend.

When asked in his police interviews why he had not called the emergency services he said he waited because of those circumstances.

The inquest concluded that Kimberley's cause of death was "unascertained" due to difficulties with the post-mortem caused by the delay.

Sheridan, who was later jailed for drugs offences, failed to attend the inquest.

The coroner said in her concluding remarks: "His self-serving cowardice, which persists to this day, demonstrates a blatant disregard for Kimberley."

The family said they had been expecting Sheridan to receive criminal charges for failing to ring emergency services along with the drugs charges.

"That's when we were told it wasn't against the law," her auntie said.

"I couldn't believe it, we were shocked and then you start to feel angry because how can you get away with leaving someone for that length of time."

The family said they have been left with unanswered questions which have made it impossible to get closure.

"She could be here today if he rang emergency services, that's something we'll never know," her mother said.

"She's got a beautiful daughter, she's 12 now, she wants answers about what's happened to her mum."

The family launched the Kimberley's Law campaign in January and a petition calling for the matter to be raised in parliament has so far received more than 7,000 signatures.

"It's not going to help Kim now but it could save somebody's life and that's what Kim would want, to help other people," Karrie said.

"She was an amazing person, she would literally drop anything and help anyone, she was really kind-hearted."

Amel Alghrani, a professor of law at University of Liverpool, said England does not currently have such a law because "our legal system focuses on punishing wrongful acts rather than omissions," unless there is an established duty of care at play, like a parent, carer or teacher.

"I think it's time to consider this offence again, given the fact that we are an outlier compared to continental Europe where many countries do have this," she said.

However, Prof Alghrani said law makers would have to ensure legislation would not penalise already vulnerable people in society.

"We'd have to be very careful with how any legislation is worded. The reality is, people in an emergency may lack the confidence and courage to intervene.

She also warned that criminal law can be a "blunt instrument" and said public education could also help achieve the outcome Kimberley's family are hoping for.

"Having a criminal law isn't a panacea - it doesn't solve all the problems," she said.

"If we really want a society of good citizens where we all help each other and the government also needs to make sure we have the confidence and are educated on things like first aid and what to do in an emergency."

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said there are currently no plans to change the law.

"Our thoughts remain with the friends and family of Kimberley McAssey."

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