‘Why was mum in clothes you could wear in the winter?’: family seeks answers after care home heatstroke death

Anita Bazell, 88, died in Southampton during June’s heatwave after being taken to hospital with a body temperature of 41.2C. Now her son wants to raise awareness of the risks of heatstroke, particularly among elderly people

Anita Bazell had never coped with the heat very well, her family said. So they were worried about her when temperatures across the UK soared to record highs of 35C (95F) in May, and then again in June.

She was living in a nursing home in Southampton near her family, who had struggled to care for her at home due to her declining mobility. Although there were air conditioning units in the communal rooms, there was not one in Anita’s room, which was on the third floor.