Toddler Dr0wns in Garden Bin After Mum Forced to Leave Her with Stranger

A heartbreaking tragedy has unfolded in Dagenham as a two-year-old girl, Mazeedat Adeoye, dr0wned in a garden bin after her mother was forced to leave her with a stranger while she cared for her baby son in the hospital.

Mazeedat’s tragic de@th on January 29, 2022, has raised serious concerns about the support provided to vulnerable families, as the inquest revealed shocking failures by both social services and those caring for the child.

Mazeedat’s mother, Balikis Adeoye, moved to the UK from Nigeria in 2021 and found herself in a desperate situation. In September 2021, her infant son was diagnosed with a serious heart condition and required surgery.

Living without permanent accommodation and facing financial difficulties, Balikis reached out to Newham Council for assistance with childcare for Mazeedat, as she was forced to stay with her son in hospital during his heart surgery.

Despite her repeated pleas, social services failed to arrange a foster placement for the toddler, instead advising Balikis to rely on friends for help. With no other options, Balikis left Mazeedat with people she did not trust or know well.

The young girl was later found drowned in a garden bin containing nine centimetres of water, hours after the alarm had been raised.

At the inquest, Balikis described her grief, saying, “Mazeedat was the most beautiful and happy little girl who brought sunshine into my life.

I’ll always keep her close to my heart.” The inquest revealed that Mazeedat’s death could have been prevented if a proper care arrangement had been made.

Coroner Graeme Irvine concluded that Mazeedat’s death was due to “gross failure” and inadequate supervision, placing blame on both the carers and the council. He noted that the missed opportunity to secure appropriate care for the toddler likely led to her untimely death.

The council responded with deep regret, stating that they have since overhauled their social work practices, which have now been rated as “Good” by Ofsted.

However, the tragedy has left a deep scar on the family, with Balikis calling for better support for vulnerable families in similar situations.

The coroner has now pledged to write a report on preventing future deaths, ensuring that Mazeedat’s death is not forgotten, and lessons are learned to protect other children in the future.