Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, who died in the crush
(Picture: PA Wire)An appeal has raised nearly £50,000 for the young sons of a 33-year-old who died after being seriously injured in a crowd crush at Brixton’s O2 Academy.
Rebecca Ikumelo, from Newham, was one of two people who lost their lives in the tragic incident on December 15, which happened when ticketless fans tried to get into a show by Nigerian artist Asake.
She died in hospital two days after the crush, leaving behind two sons aged four and seven, one of whom is autistic.
A former nursing associate in sexual health, Ms Ikumelo was well-known on TikTok and YouTube, where she regularly posted videos about parenting an autistic child.
A Gofundme appeal launched by her family to raise money to support her sons has now reached more than £46,000 in donations.
“We as a family are deeply broken. We are suffering. We are grieving the loss of our sister, Rebecca (Tosin) Ikumelo,” wrote the family on the fundraising page.
“Yet through this all we want to ensure that Tosin’s two sons, who are aged seven and four are protected, and their needs are catered for.
“To know Tosin, was to know what it meant to serve others so deeply, with grace, and compassion.
“Tosin was a nurse, she was a matriarchal figure to her siblings, and cousins.
“Many of you will know Tosin for her work in advocating for children with autism.
“Tosin had the responsibility of raising a young child with autism, and she wanted to empower parents with neurologically diverse children.”
The majority of the money raised through the appeal will be placed in a trust, for Mr Ikumelo’s sons to access once they are aged 18 or above, said the family.
“The remaining donations will be used by their dad and their grandmother [to] help maintain both the boys’ day-to-day upkeep which will include neurological assistance,” they added.
“We don’t know how much support these children will need in the the days and years to come.
“However, we will do all we can ourselves to support them, and so any additional support from you is welcomed, and greatly appreciated.”
Moving comments have been posted on the Gofundme page, from those who knew Ms Ikumelo and her TikTok channel, and strangers touched by her story.
“I’m a mother of four and I can’t imagine what it would be like for those children,” wrote Mercy Okai. “No amount of money can replace their Mum but we pray that they will still be loved, cared for very well and provision will not be an issue.”
Another described Ms Ikumelo as “such a beautiful woman inside and out”, adding: “So sorry Rebecca and to her beautiful children.”
On TikTok meanwhile, Rebecca’s followers and other autism advocates remembered her as “a beautiful woman, advocate and most importantly mother”, who “would have moved planets” for her children.
A number of people were injured in last month’s crowd crush and were treated at the scene by staff, police and paramedics,
Security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, who was also among those most seriously hurt, tragically died in hospital two days after Ms Ikumelo, while another woman, aged 21, remains in a critical condition in hospital more than a month later.
The O2 Brixton Academy announced on Friday it will remain shut for an extra three months while the Met investigates what happened.
The south London venue has been closed since the tragedy on December 15.
Lambeth Council decided to suspend the site’s licence was taken after police said it was apparent “security staff had completely lost control of the situation with regards to crowd control”.
But Academy Music Group (AMG), which runs the venue, announced on Friday it had “reflected deeply” on what happened and decided to voluntarily remain shut for another three months while the Met Police investigates what happened.
Visit the Gofundme page for Ms Ikumelo’s sons here.
