Newborns Melody and Rose Clarke's life support was turned off yesterday, while their mum Jocelyn remains in a coma
Relatives of the newborn twins who died after it took paramedics 30 minutes to reach their pregnant mum have vowed to raise funds for the hospital where they were treated.
The life support machines for Melody and Rose were switched off yesterday in a poignant 'farewell' with dad Kevin Clarke and close family at Birmingham Women’s Hospital.
The tragedy means Jocelyn, who remains in a coma, will never meet her tiny babies who were born in an emergency caesarian at 32 weeks the Birmingham Mail reports.
The twins were starved of oxygen after paramedics were locked out of the council-run tower block from which their 27-year-old mum dialled 999 for half-an-hour.
They suffered multi-organ failure and lack of oxygen to their brain. Jocelyn had suffered a placental abruption and was found unconscious after her heart stopped.
Her dad Joe Bennett, 54, said: “We want to raise money for the hospital in memory of Melody and Rose.
“The staff have been so good here and did everything they could for the twins. They worked so hard.
“We would like to give money to the neo-natal ward where they were treated. Those people who have supported us with their comments online can help us to start off by donating just £1 to the charity.
“The support we’ve had has been amazing. We will be starting up something online to raise funds.”
He added that the funeral will take place in around two weeks’ time and asked people to donate to the hospital instead of sending flowers.
The family have asked for a full inquest into their deaths to find out if a quicker response by paramedics would have saved them.
“We want to know whether it would have made a difference. We believe it would have and there are others who do too,” Joe added.
The twins were born on October 29 after Jocelyn, also mum to Slater, aged three, was rushed to hospital.
Paramedics finally gained access with the help of the police who broke down the door, to the Birmingham City Council-run tower block Peck House, in Winterbourne Croft, Druids Heath.
Yesterday Sir Albert Bore, the leader of the council said a full investigation was underway with all agencies which were involved in the tragedy.
A spokeswoman added: “Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time. We have systems to provide emergency access to our blocks for the emergency services and an urgent investigation was commissioned as soon as we were made aware of the matter.”
To donate to the hospital log onto www.bwhcharity.org.uk
