EXCLUSIVE: “I Nearly Died”- Rainham Resident Hospitalised as Fires Continue to Plague Community

As summer arrives, so too does the all-too-familiar sound of sirens racing through Rainham. Fire engines on blue lights have become a near-daily sight for local residents, responding yet again to fires around Launders Lane and other hotspots. However, for one Rainham resident, these recurring fires may be more than a nuisance — they may be impacting their health.

Catherine, a long-standing member of the Launders Lane Steering Group, has just returned home after a terrifying hospital stay that nearly ended in tragedy. Having suffered from persistent coughing and severe shortness of breath, she initially believed she had caught Covid or the flu. What she didn’t expect was that she was battling life-threatening pneumonia.

“I visited my GP, Dr Imran Sheikh, expecting to collect my chest X-ray results,” Catherine told The Havering Daily. “But he took one look at me and urgently advised I go to Queen’s Hospital. It was his quick thinking that ultimately saved my life.”

At Queen’s Hospital in Romford, doctors diagnosed her with a critical case of pneumonia. Her oxygen levels were dangerously low, and she was immediately placed on oxygen. Within hours, Catherine was facing the possibility of being put into a medically induced coma.

“I wore a Darth Vader-style oxygen mask for days, twice a day, every day. I was so scared. At one point, doctors told me I was nil by mouth in case I had to be intubated and put into a coma. It was terrifying—not just for me, but for my husband and family. Every day was a fight for my life.”

Catherine believes her condition may have been directly linked to the fumes she and other Rainham residents have endured for years—fumes from repeated fires, particularly around Launders Lane. Despite years of campaigning, Catherine believes little meaningful action has been taken.

“I’ve lived here for more than 15 years, and we’ve been begging for people to resolve these fires,” she said. “But each summer it’s the same story. Talks take place. Promises are made. Then nothing happens. And now? I’ve nearly died.”

Since June alone, the fire brigade has been called to Rainham multiple times, with reports of major fires requiring several pump crews. Residents are routinely warned to keep windows and doors closed, as thick, choking smoke blankets the area.

For Catherine, the experience has left her both physically weakened and emotionally drained—but also more determined than ever to speak out.

“Our children can’t play outside. We’re living with windows closed, breathing thick smoke. I feel abandoned by those in power. Unless you live here, you do not understand what we’re going through. We, the Rainham residents, are the ones struggling to breathe.”

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