Family of Bury mum, who died four years ago today, calling for change in law
Kimberley McAssey was found unresponsive in February 2021, but her friend waited over 30 hours to report her death
Last updated 20th Feb 2025
The family of a Bury mum, who died four years ago, are calling for a change in the law, after a friend waited over 30 hours to report her death.
Kimberley McAssey was 29-years-old when she was found unresponsive in friend Ryan Sheridan's bed in February 2021, but instead of calling 999 immediately, he waited more than a day to make a phone call, to his mum.
Six hours later, they then decided to call emergency services and because of the delay, the coroner at the inquest into Kimberley's death could not determine how she died.
Her death was ruled as 'unexplained'.
Now the mum-of-one's family, from Prestwich, are calling for it to be an offence to delay ringing emergency services after a death or medical incident.
Karrie McAssey, Kimberley's mum and aunt Shelly Crooks, are campaigning for Kimberley's Law.
Karrie described her daughter as a "character" who "was always acting silly, doing pranks."
Shelly Crooks said her niece was "really kind" and would see the best in everybody: "She always brightened up your day and always had a big smile on her face."
"She was a great mum. She is really really missed."
Shelly said it's crucial people back their campaign: "Lets get this through, let's save lives... this won't help Kimberley now but it will help somebody else, and that's all we want.
"We are hoping it's not going to be years and years, and we don't see why it should be years and years.
"People should want this just as much as we want it."
Karrie told Hits Radio Manchester why she is fighting for this change in law, in honour of her daughter: "Just so it won't happen to anybody else, at all.
"She never got the justice. We all thought it was a law, so really we just don't want it to happen to anybody else.
"She still could be here today.
"We want it to be a criminal offence."