A 40-year-old Hong Kong woman suffering from asthma was found dead inside her house, with her three-year-old daughter suspected of staying beside her corpse for four days. The child's cries eventually alerted neighbors, unveiling the incident.
Hong Kong 01 reported that the incident took place at Lok Wah North Estate in Ngau Tau Kok. Sources stated that the family involved was not a single-parent family; however, the husband is currently serving a prison sentence, leaving the deceased to take care of the daughter alone. The deceased had been unemployed in recent years and faced financial and child-rearing stress, so she occasionally needed financial assistance from her mother, who also helped care for the daughter, but she did not have suicidal tendencies.
It was said that the deceased used to work as a hairdresser but had been unemployed for at least six years. The unit where the mother and daughter resided was owned by the deceased's grandmother, who had moved into a nursing home in recent years. Thus, after the husband’s imprisonment, the deceased was taking care of her 3-year-old daughter by herself.
The little girl had not attended school since Monday (12th). The school teachers called the deceased multiple times without response, and subsequently, on Thursday (15th), they visited the home. Both mother and daughter were at home at that time, with the deceased explaining to the teacher that the daughter was unwell and unable to attend school. The teacher did not notice anything unusual and left; the girl continued to miss school after this visit.
Additionally, it is understood that the deceased had visited her mother’s home for dinner with her daughter on Sunday (18th), and there was no contact afterward. It was only when the grandmother was notified on the 23rd that she learned of her daughter's passing.
The 3-year-old who stayed with her mother’s corpse for days reportedly survived on biscuits, bread, and water available at home. She was found without visible injuries and was sent to United Hospital for examination while conscious.
●Residents Hear Child Crying
At 11:20 a.m. on the 23rd, residents of Pik Wah House at Lok Wah North Estate heard a child's crying and the sound of her banging on the metal gate from a nearby unit. Concerned, they notified security, who then informed the Housing Department. Housing Department staff called the police for help, suspecting the child might be inadequately cared for at the location.
Simultaneously, Housing Department staff, security personnel, and the female tenant’s mother opened the door with a key and found the 40-year-old woman lying on the bed in one of the bedrooms. Paramedics confirmed her death upon examination. Initial findings suggest the woman, who had suffered from asthma for 30 years, had been deceased for four days, and her body showed signs of livor mortis, with cause of death pending investigation.
Police investigations believe the 3-year-old daughter was not inappropriately treated and arranged for her to be sent to the hospital for examination. They also engaged a social worker and teachers from the child’s kindergarten to understand the situation. The Social Welfare Department responded to inquiries by stating their social workers have contacted the relevant family members and would provide suitable assistance based on their welfare needs. It is understood that the family involved was not a case followed up by the department, and the kindergarten's social worker is providing assistance.