Luke Brooks Oldham and Luke Brooks death

Young Man's Tragic Death Linked to 'Heavily-Mould Infested' Rental Home in Oldham

Another person's death in Greater Manchester is suspected of being linked to mould at their home, the Manchester Evening News can reveal. The tragic case of 27-year-old Luke Brooks is being investigated by police and a coroner after he died on October 25th last year.

Expert Suggests Death Related to 'Heavily Mould-Infested' Rental Property

An expert has suggested Mr. Brooks' untimely death was related to concerning conditions at his family's rented property in Oldham, which was described as 'heavily mould-infested'.

Senior coroner Joanne Kearsley has now opened an inquest into the 27-year-old's death. It comes just months after she presided over hearings into the heartbreaking case of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died in 2020 after being exposed to mould at his parent's Rochdale housing association flat.

Awaab's Law Campaign Sparked by Toddler's Tragic Case

Awaab's case - and the scandal surrounding Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) that followed - sparked the Awaab's Law campaign calling for action on dangerous mould. While the coronial investigation into Luke Brooks' death has some way to go, it could soon be confirmed as the second recent fatality in Greater Manchester related to medical issues brought on by mould exposure.

Ms Kearsley stressed the cause of death is still only 'provisional' at this early stage. However, Awaab died from mould in social housing, whereas Mr Brooks lived at a privately-rented property with his family after they had been tenants there for 8 years.

Fit Young Man Developed Breathing Issues Before Death

Mr Brooks' grieving family described him as a previously 'fit lad'. His parents had made a number of complaints over the years about the rental property being in a concerning state of 'disrepair', the coroner's court heard.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed an ongoing investigation into the circumstances. Detective Inspector Judith Holmes said the landlord would be 'spoken to as part of this investigation', although they were not named in court.

Police Investigating Potential Aspergillus Mould Link

A microbiologist will now inspect the Oldham rental property and test for aspergillus - a type of toxic mould linked to the pneumonia Mr Brooks tragically suffered from before his untimely death. A post-mortem examination shockingly suggested the fatal condition was brought on by 'heavily-mould infested accommodation', with pneumonia leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Concerning Breathing Issues Preceded Sudden Death

Paul Lever, GMP's police coroners' officer, told the court: "Luke resided with his parents. He spent a lot of time in his room playing video games and left the house on a few occasions."

Mr Lever said Mr Brooks alarmingly suffered with 'difficulty breathing' in the days before his death. He felt 'weak' and developed a concerning rash. The court heard Mr Brooks tried to get a GP appointment before eventually turning in desperation to the NHS 111 service. He was mistakenly told it was thought he had a 'viral infection'.

Tragedy as Young Man Dies After 'Fit'

On the day of his death, Mr Brooks heartbreakingly suffered breathing difficulties again. He then had a 'fit in his bed' and tragically stopped breathing. Luke Brooks was pronounced dead despite the best efforts of medical staff.

Conclusion: Another Potential Tragedy Linked to Dangerous Mould

The tragic case shows the potential dangers of mould infestations, which can prove fatal if ignored. While the police investigation continues, Luke Brooks' distraught family will be hoping for answers and justice. His death also highlights issues around standards in the private rental sector.

If the link is confirmed, Mr Brooks' case would be the latest evidence that much more urgent action is needed to tackle hazardous mould and improve rental conditions across Greater Manchester. No family should have to suffer such an unbearable, preventable loss.