Inquiry to be held into death of boy, 7, in floods

An inquiry is to be held into the death of a seven-year-old boy in severe floods in Surrey.

The government announced the non-statutory inquiry after years of campaigning by the family of Zane Gbangbola, who died after the River Thames flooded his Chertsey home in 2014.

His parents disputed the results of a 2016 inquest that he died of carbon monoxide poisoning and said their son was killed by gas washed out from a former landfill site. They first called for an independent inquiry 10 years ago.

The inquiry, announced by Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, will examine the circumstances of Zane's death, the response of public services and the treatment of his family afterwards.

Zane's parents, Nicole Lawler and Kye Gbangbola, said: "We have campaigned tirelessly for truth since Zane's death and welcome the keeping of Sir Keir's promise of justice for seven-year-old Zane."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who met Zane's parents, said he had been "deeply moved by their strength, dignity and determination".

He said: "No family should feel that their questions have gone unanswered or that they are in a battle with the very services that should be there to support them."

Dr Sandie Okoro OBE, who will chair the inquiry, said she would engage with the family and key stakeholders on draft terms of reference before starting a "rigorous and fair inquiry" this autumn.

The family, who previously compared their case to the Post Office scandal, said: "We will never win. Zane will never win. He has been taken from us. But today we pray that this is a step closer to exposing the lies."

The couple have raised long-running concerns over nearby landfill, including historical tipping experiments in the area.

Their campaign for greater transparency over contaminated land, Zane's Law, has been backed by London mayor Sadiq Khan and other councils across the country, including Lewes, Brighton & Hove and Adur.

Nicola Brook, solicitor for the family, said she hoped the inquiry would finally provide answers.

A non-statutory inquiry does not have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence.

However, the announcement comes as parliament considers the proposed Hillsborough Law, which imposes a duty of candour on public bodies.

Defra said the legislation will be available to all live inquiries when it becomes law, but the inquiry into Zane's death will operate in that spirit, with individuals and organisations expected to engage openly, honestly and candidly.

The inquiry will not look at Zane's cause of death, because that is the role of a coroner.

However, if new evidence emerges, an interested party can ask the attorney general for permission to seek a fresh inquest at the High Court.

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