logo
Deaf TikTok star's death was ‘avoidable' says family

Deaf TikTok star's death was ‘avoidable' says family

Rhyl Journal24-05-2025

Imogen Nunn, 25, died in Brighton, East Sussex, on New Year's Day 2023.
On Friday, following the conclusion of Miss Nunn's inquest at West Sussex Coroners Court, her mother said she hopes 'vital lessons' can be learned from her daughter's death.
Louise Nunn said: 'Immy was our rainbow – she would make you feel so special whenever she was around and her heart was filled only with love.
'We welcome the coroner's findings, and hope that the agencies concerned can learn vital lessons from what happened to Immy to ensure that no other family has to endure the pain that we have endured.
'We believe Immy's death was avoidable and that there were several opportunities to help her, which were missed by those entrusted with her care.
'We believe that had appropriate actions been taken after the many times Immy asked the care professionals she trusted for help, she would still be alive today.
'It is clear to us that Immy didn't want to die and was, in fact, calling out for and trying her best to get help. But in the end, after fighting for so long for support, she was simply too exhausted to carry on.'
Miss Nunn ran a TikTok account that had amassed more than 780,000 followers, where she raised awareness of hearing and mental health issues.
After her death, her followers sent 'thousands' of messages about how she had helped them with their own problems and in some cases saved their lives, her family said.
'Whilst nothing can ever heal the pain of losing Immy, we take comfort in the knowledge that she was able to help so many others facing similar struggles to her.
'We believe this will be a lasting legacy for our beautiful Immy who will always be with us in our hearts,' her mother said.
They added that it was 'bitterly disappointing' for her family when the inquest was delayed due to a lack of British Sign Language interpreters.
Family solicitor Caleb Bawdon said: 'To have had their daughter's inquest disrupted by the very same issue Immy repeatedly faced herself, has been bitterly disappointing and upsetting for her family.'
They have called for government ministries to act in light of the coroner's findings on Friday.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'I was perfectly healthy - now mystery condition grinds my joints'
'I was perfectly healthy - now mystery condition grinds my joints'

Daily Mirror

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

'I was perfectly healthy - now mystery condition grinds my joints'

Angharad Brawn, 30, has been wheelchair-bound since childhood due to a mystery degenerative condition, which has left her with a curved spine and needing a hip replacement Angharad Brawn, a 30-year-old woman from the village of Ynysddu in South Wales, has been wheelchair-bound since childhood due to an undiagnosed degenerative condition that causes her joints to "grind together". She uses painting as a means to distract herself from the chronic pain. Born "perfectly healthy", Angharad began experiencing leg aches at the age of five, which progressively worsened throughout her childhood. By the time she finished primary school, she was reliant on a wheelchair, and her health continued to decline, leading to scoliosis and necessitating a hip replacement at just 18 years old. ‌ Despite undergoing genetic testing, where her symptoms were compared to a rare genetic disorder, Angharad's condition didn't perfectly match, leaving her without an official diagnosis. ‌ Her condition causes severe pain in most of her joints, to the point where she can "literally feel (her) bones grinding together". Unable to walk or stand, she relies on a motorised wheelchair for mobility. The future progression of her condition remains uncertain, with recent "scary" developments affecting her speech and swallowing abilities. However, over the past two years, she has found solace in painting, which she says has helped her "rediscover (her) love of painting" and provides a welcome distraction from her pain. Committed to her autonomy, Angharad has self-published a children's book inspired by her own story, regularly vending her creative works at craft fairs and through her personal website, in addition to engaging thousands of TikTok enthusiasts with her artistic talents. "I've never had an official diagnosis, all the geneticists I've seen have basically said they have never seen anything like the symptoms I have," Angharad said. "Being in pain is draining but there's nothing that can be done about it, I've just got to get on with it. "My art really helps as it means I have to focus on something else, my bungalow has normally got different projects I'm working on all over it, so I've always got some sort of distraction at hand." Angharad, who was born without apparent health issues, began feeling leg "aches" when she was around five years old. ‌ "By the time I was seven, it was more obvious I was struggling," she recalled. "I started not being able to do things, like riding a bike." She revealed that after being referred to an orthopaedic consultant, it was initially suspected that she suffered from Myhre syndrome – an incredibly uncommon genetic condition. ‌ Dissatisfied with the initial assessments, her mother, Deborah Gordon, insisted on further opinions, leading Angharad to undergo numerous tests, trialling diverse pain relief remedies and pursuing physiotherapy within a community care framework. By nine years of age, Angharad resorted to crutches and had transitioned to full-time wheelchair use by the close of her primary education, ultimately taking to a motorised wheelchair at 14 to maintain her self-sufficiency. Angharad's medical journey began when her consultants were unable to pinpoint a specific ailment, leading to a referral to a geneticist at the age of 18. ‌ Following numerous consultations and blood tests, Angharad shared that her symptoms bore resemblance to Schwartz-Jampel syndrome (SJS), an uncommon genetic disorder impacting muscle function and bone development. However, for a definitive SJS diagnosis, Angharad would need to exhibit eight particular chromosomal abnormalities; she only has two, leaving her without a formal diagnosis. Her condition, which is degenerative and "slowly getting worse over time", compromises not just her bones but also her muscles and tendons, resulting in myotonia muscle spasms that prevent them from fully relaxing. ‌ "What's particularly scary is that I am now having problems with my speech and my swallowing," Angharad said. She also mentioned that her condition causes a "distortion" of her skeleton, including scoliosis—a spinal curvature—which necessitated the insertion of metal rods in her spine at 16 years old. At 18, Angharad underwent hip replacement surgery to alleviate some of her discomfort. Speaking about her chronic pain, she described experiencing "good days and bad days". ‌ "I get pain in most of my joints, but especially in my right hip, back and shoulders," she explained. "It is really tiring and, in most of my joints, I can literally feel my bones grinding together." In August 2019, Angharad was offered a bungalow by Caerphilly Council, where she now resides alone, with a team of carers visiting her in the mornings and evenings. Unable to walk or stand, Angharad utilises a ceiling hoist to assist her in moving from her bed to her wheelchair or shower chair. ‌ "I normally describe myself as stubbornly independent, I will always try and do something myself before asking for help," she said. "We've managed to set up my care in a way that is really flexible, so some days I may need less help." Angharad revealed that she had always dreamt of becoming a jewellery designer and attended the School of Jewellery at Birmingham City University. However, her deteriorating hand function led her to switch paths and pursue art instead. She now concentrates on painting animals, particularly birds, which are her favourite. Currently, she is working on filling a sketchbook with various bird species. ‌ "I'm right-handed, but my right hand has always been my worse hand, so I've had to learn to paint and write with my left," she said. "My hands can also be shaky and I get a lot of muscle spasms. I think that's why I prefer painting animals, they normally don't have smooth edges, so it doesn't really matter if my hands shake a bit." Angharad continually finds ways to work around her disability in creating her art, selling it at local fairs and through her website, Her TikTok page has become a platform to showcase her art as well, earning a "really supportive" following of more than 12,000. In addition to her visual art, Angharad authored, illustrated, and self-published a children's picture book named The Wobbly Penguin. The narrative draws from her personal experience with a degenerative condition during her formative years. Although the future trajectory of her condition remains uncertain—potentially necessitating increased support and a speech aid should her verbal communication decline—Angharad remains optimistic. "I just want to show that even though someone may have a very obvious physically disabling condition, they're still fighting to be as independent as they can be," she said.

Woman's mystery condition 'grinds joints together' - one thing distracts from the pain
Woman's mystery condition 'grinds joints together' - one thing distracts from the pain

Wales Online

time2 hours ago

  • Wales Online

Woman's mystery condition 'grinds joints together' - one thing distracts from the pain

Woman's mystery condition 'grinds joints together' - one thing distracts from the pain Angharad Brawn first experienced pain at the age of five Angharad describes herself as 'stubbornly independent' (Image: PA Real Life ) A 30-year-old wheelchair-bound since childhood by a mystery degenerative condition which causes her joints to 'grind together' has said she paints to distract herself from her chronic pain. Angharad Brawn, based in the village of Ynysddu in South Wales, said she was born 'perfectly healthy', but from the age of five she started to experience aches in her legs which worsened throughout her childhood. ‌ By the end of primary school, she needed a wheelchair and her condition continued to worsen, to the point where she developed scoliosis and needed a hip replacement at 18. ‌ Angharad underwent genetic testing where her symptoms were likened to a rare genetic disorder – but as she was not a direct match, she has been left without an official diagnosis. Since her youth, Angharad has been experiencing pains in most of her joints due to her condition, where she can 'literally feel (her) bones grinding together', and she uses a motorised wheelchair to move as she cannot walk or stand. Angharad says she has 'no idea' how her condition will deteriorate in the future, with her latest 'scary' struggles impacting her speech and ability to swallow – but over the last two years, she has 'rediscovered (her) love of painting' to provide a distraction from her pain. Article continues below Determined to remain independent, Angharad has published a children's picture book based on her experience, regularly sells her artwork at craft fairs and on her website, and showcases her creations to thousands of TikTok followers. 'I've never had an official diagnosis, all the geneticists I've seen have basically said they have never seen anything like the symptoms I have,' Angharad said. 'Being in pain is draining but there's nothing that can be done about it, I've just got to get on with it. 'My art really helps as it means I have to focus on something else, my bungalow has normally got different projects I'm working on all over it, so I've always got some sort of distraction at hand.' ‌ Born healthy, Angharad started to complain of 'aches' in her legs around the age of five. 'By the time I was seven, it was more obvious I was struggling,' she said. 'I started not being able to do things, like riding a bike.' Angharad said she was referred to an orthopaedic consultant, where it was originally thought she had Myhre syndrome – an extremely rare genetic disorder. ‌ Her mother, Deborah Gordon, pressed for a second opinion, however, and Angharad underwent several tests, tried out various pain relief medications and had physiotherapy under a community care team. At the age of nine, Angharad started using crutches, then by the end of primary school she needed a wheelchair – before eventually progressing to a motorised one for her independence at 14 years old. As Angharad's consultants could not identify a specific condition she could be suffering with, she was referred to a geneticist when she was 18. ‌ Angharad started to experience aches in her legs from the age of five (Image: PA Real Life ) After many appointments and blood tests, Angharad said her symptoms were likened to a condition called Schwartz-Jampel syndrome (SJS), a rare genetic disorder which affects muscle function and skeletal development. For a confirmed SJS diagnosis, Angharad would need to display eight specific chromosome abnormalities, but she just has two, meaning she has been living without an official diagnosis. ‌ Angharad said her condition, which is degenerative and 'slowly getting worse over time', affects her bones but also her muscles and tendons, causing myotonia muscle spasms, meaning they never fully relax. 'What's particularly scary is that I am now having problems with my speech and my swallowing,' she said. Angharad said her condition also results in a 'distortion' of her skeleton and she has scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, which had to be corrected by metal rods implanted in her spine aged 16. ‌ She had her hip replaced at 18 years old to relieve some of her pain. Describing her chronic pain, Angharad said she has 'good days and bad days'. 'I get pain in most of my joints, but especially in my right hip, back and shoulders,' she said. 'It is really tiring and, in most of my joints, I can literally feel my bones grinding together.' Angharad needed a wheelchair by the end of primary school (Image: PA Real Life ) ‌ In August 2019, Angharad was offered a bungalow through Caerphilly Council, where she now lives on her own and a team of carers visit her in the mornings and evenings. As she cannot walk or stand, Angharad uses a hoist in the ceiling to help her get out of bed and into her wheelchair or shower chair. 'I normally describe myself as stubbornly independent, I will always try and do something myself before asking for help,' she said. 'We've managed to set up my care in a way that is really flexible, so some days I may need less help.' Angharad said she always wanted to be a jewellery designer and attended the School of Jewellery at Birmingham City University, but her deteriorating hand function saw her change direction and pursue art instead. ‌ She now focuses on painting animals, with birds being her favourite, and she is currently working to fill a sketchbook with various types of birds. 'I'm right-handed, but my right hand has always been my worse hand, so I've had to learn to paint and write with my left,' she said. 'My hands can also be shaky and I get a lot of muscle spasms. I think that's why I prefer painting animals, they normally don't have smooth edges, so it doesn't really matter if my hands shake a bit.' Angharad is currently working on filling a sketchbook with various types of birds (Image: TikTok/PA Real Life ) ‌ Angharad said she has to work around her disability in order to produce her artwork – which she sells at local craft fairs and on her website, Angharad has also showcased her artwork on her TikTok page, where she has found a 'really supportive' community with more than 12,000 followers. She has also written, illustrated and self-published a children's picture book, titled The Wobbly Penguin, which is based on her experience growing up with a degenerative condition. While Angharad said she does not know what the future holds for her condition, estimating she will need more support and potentially a speaking device if her speech continues to be impacted, she remains positive. Article continues below 'I just want to show that even though someone may have a very obvious physically disabling condition, they're still fighting to be as independent as they can be,' she said.

When a Glasgow teacher gives a young scholar dietary advice...
When a Glasgow teacher gives a young scholar dietary advice...

The Herald Scotland

time3 hours ago

  • The Herald Scotland

When a Glasgow teacher gives a young scholar dietary advice...

A Glasgow English teacher decided to give one of her young scholars dietary advice, and warned the youngster: 'If you don't eat veggies, you'll get scurvy.' 'Who's Scurvy?' replied the suspicious kid. 'Why's he coming at me?' Grinderman Yesterday morning reader Phil Hazelton was up bright and early, and eager to schlurp a black coffee in his local Costa. Why he was up so early we won't bother to explain, because it has no bearing on the story. What is important to our narrative, however, is what Phil spotted while queuing for his java jolt… the café was selling chewing gum. And not just any chewing gum. This was a product called Milliways Plastic Free Gum, which gave our reader pause for thought. 'I've heard of sugar-free gum,' he concedes, 'but never plastic free.' Drawing the inevitable conclusion, Phil says: 'Does this mean that all the other gum I've chewed over the years was packed with plastic? Have I been naively noshing reconstituted Lego bricks?!' Adds Phil: 'No wonder my teeth are in a piteous state. Obviously nothing to do with all the chocolate I've been munching…' Read more: Titillating tome may prove as controversial as Lady Chatterley's Mollusc Age-appropriate material Cafe culture, continued. Samantha Cushing was enjoying a cuppa in a Glasgow cafeteria when she overheard a proud father discussing his young daughter with a pal. At one point the bloke said: 'Just the other day she said to me, 'I'm four now, and I'm going to do four-year-old things.' 'And d'you know what? The next moment I saw her running. And I thought, she IS running like a four year old. She really was!' (The Diary will leave it up to the perambulatory experts amongst our readership to decide whether a four year old runs in a particular fashion, specific to themselves. Though we have a lurking suspicion that it isn't very different from how a 3-and-¾ year old runs...) Burnt offering Inquisitive reader Alex Hale says: 'Did you know a candle flame smells exactly like burnt nose hair?' Flight of fancy Enjoying a stroll with his grandson in Rouken Glen Park, reader Roger Burns passed a teenager flying a kite. 'What's that?!' asked Roger's grandson, clearly confused by the strange spectacle. 'That,' said Roger, 'is an early version of TikTok. How you kept kids quiet in the good old days.' Hard-hitting story A tragic occurrence. 'My gran died on her 97th birthday,' sobs reader Jennifer Barnett. 'And we were only halfway through giving her the bumps...'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store