The parents of a nine-month-old baby who suffocated to death in nursery narrowly avoided losing their second child in a second tragedy, it emerged last night.
Lewis and Zoe Steeper’s baby Oliver died six days after drowning at Jelly Beans Day Nursery in Ashford, Kent, in September 2021.
He was given food and began to struggle to breathe, and died devastatingly six days later of a heart attack at Evelina London Children’s Hospital.
It has now emerged that his parents almost faced a similar tragedy with their second son Jake, but managed to avoid the heartbreak a second time by using a device to save him.
Lewis used a LifeVac device, an airway-clearing device that the couple has distributed more than 100 to daycares since Oliver’s death.
Oliver was given food and began to struggle to breathe and died devastatingly six days later from a heart attack at Evelina London Children’s Hospital.
Lewis and Zoe Steeper’s baby Oliver died six days after drowning at Jelly Beans Day Nursery in Ashford, Kent, in September 2021.
Swimming teacher Zoe Steeper with her son Oliver before her death
Jake stopped breathing in December 2023 after waking up with a fever. His 39-year-old father used one of the devices to clear the 14-month-old boy’s throat.
Doctors said Jake had Covid and made a full recovery. Sun reported.
Lewis told the newspaper: “It’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I kept saying, ‘I can’t lose another child.’
He and Zoe, 34, set up the Oliver Steeper Foundation after his death and raised almost £19,000 to buy LifeVacs and donate them to nurseries.
Lewis told The Sun that his mission is “even more personal” after he used the device to save Jake, adding that “we want to save as many lives as possible.”
The couple have been told the CPS have decided not to press charges and Kent Police have also dropped their investigation into Oliver’s death.
His parents announced the decision on the Oliver Steeper Foundation website, but vowed to fight to overturn the decision.
The statement read: “Although the initial investigation concluded that the daycare’s policies and procedures were ‘poor quality and inconsistent,’ at this time no liability will prevail for our son’s tragic and avoidable death.”
“We are hugely disappointed and shocked by the initial decision, but we are by no means deterred.
Oliver Steeper surrounded by tubes at Evelina London Children’s Hospital before he died
The photo shows the funeral that was held for baby Oliver after his death.
‘We have instructed specialist solicitors Leigh Day, who have lodged our appeal with the Crown Prosecution Service.
“We will spare no effort because we believe the CPS has overlooked or ignored many key aspects of what occurred that day.”
After Oliver’s death, the daycare closed permanently following the tragedy.
The closure came after Ofsted nursery inspectors suspended its registration.
The Steepers added that they were also disappointed with Ofsted’s handling of the case.
The investigation into his death was opened and the cause of death was indicated as a brain injury and a heart attack, but was put on hold pending the outcome of the investigations.
Since then, her parents have been campaigning against government suggestions to reduce the ratio of nursery carers to children to make childcare cheaper, with a petition gathering more than 100,000 signatures.
Swimming teacher Zoe had a second son, named Jake Oliver Steeper.
Surveyor Lewis previously said the couple were very happy to have had a second chance at parenthood.
She said: ‘Oliver was our first baby and honestly the best you could have asked for… he was just perfect.
“It’s a strange feeling knowing that the new baby will probably look and sound the same as Oli.
“We’re glad they gave us another chance.”
And speaking of her attempt to avoid changes that would see nursery staff caring for more children, Lewis added: “After losing Oliver in an early years setting, we feel it is now our duty to protect other children from the people who are trying to reform the sector.
‘These are members of parliament who will never put their own children in a local nursery because of their wealth and privilege; who simply don’t live in the real world, the rest of us do and we don’t bat an eyelid at the cost of childcare.’
A Kent Police spokesperson said at the time: “Kent Police carried out inquiries into the circumstances surrounding a death at a nursery in Ashford on Thursday 23 September 2021.
‘Following a thorough investigation, no further action will be taken and the investigation has been shelved pending further information coming to light.
“A report will be prepared for the coroner.”
A CPS spokesperson said at the time: ‘Kent Police have referred a file of evidence to the CPS seeking a decision on charges against two suspects in relation to the death of Oliver Steeper. After a careful review of all the evidence, we concluded that there was insufficient evidence to offer a realistic prospect of conviction for any of the suspects.
‘Oliver’s death was a tragedy and we understand how difficult it must have been for his family to hear our decision. Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.
‘We have received an application from Oliver’s family under the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme. We will now carry out a full independent review of all the evidence. It would not be appropriate to comment further until the review has been completed.’