Man would still be alive with better social care, says family

The family of an East Sussex man with complex physical and mental health needs who died in July believe he would "100%" be alive if he received better care from the local authority.

Christopher Reader, who died in Bexhill aged 44, had lived in supported accommodation for several years before then living independently, with carers meant to come in three times a week.

Brother Luke Ripley and mum Laura Walder believe East Sussex County Council (ESCC) neglected Reader, though a safeguarding enquiry did not find any evidence of neglect.

Walder said: "I think there's a lot of people that are involved that have got blood on their hands."

Reader, who Ripley described as "extremely vulnerable", went to live independently in September 2025 after five years in supported accommodation.

The family said the decision for Reader to move was made by ESCC.

Ripley said that while he "didn't really want to go", the family were not initially worried as "we had the trust and the faith in the social services and the care agency".

The bungalow where Reader lived had "no hot water or heating", said Walder, nor were there carpets.

They said the condition of the bungalow was not flagged by any carers who attended the property.

Less than a year after moving in, Reader died in July "of natural causes," Ripley said.

At the time Reader was moving into the bungalow, Walder was receiving dialysis treatment and relying on Ripley's support.

He said this made supporting his brother difficult at that point.

"We feel like we could've done more, but what could I do? If you're [Walder] in Brighton having dialysis and I'm the one with the car, Chris didn't drive - that's why we trusted social services," Ripley said.

In terms of what the family would like to see happen next, Ripley and Walder want unredacted care logs, an inquest and for those responsible to be held accountable.

Ripley: "I don't just want resignations because I think there needs to be a prosecution here, because someone is now dead."

Walder added: "He was put in there [the accommodation] and forgotten."

A spokesperson for ESCC said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Christopher."

They added that the outcome of a statutory safeguarding enquiry, completed under Section 42 of the Care Act 2014, has been shared with his family.

These enquiries are undertaken when there is concern that an adult may be experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect.

According to the shared outcome letter, there was "no evidence of provider neglect or organisational abuse".

Areas of learning and service improvement were identified, particularly in relation to oversight of repeated cancelled visits and no-access calls, welfare monitoring of individuals who have mental capacity but may remain vulnerable, and professional curiosity where concerns are emerging over time.

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