Rebecca Ikumelo,33, was one of the three people critically injured during a crush at a show by Nigerian artist Asake at the O2 Academy in Brixton, south London.
A loving single mom of two tragically passed away in a heart-shattering incident that happened outside the Brixton O2 Academy. Rebecca Ikumelo,33, was one of the three people critically injured during a crush at a show by Nigerian artist Asake at the O2 Academy in Brixton, South London, on Thursday. A number of people had attempted to force entry into the venue without tickets, per New York Post.
Ikumelo loved documenting her life with her two kids one of whom was diagnosed with autism in 2020, per Independent. Ikumelo posted her final video to her YouTube channel on Wednesday.
She was a mum and leaves behind 2 children.
— Lorraine King (@lorrainemking) December 18, 2022
I hope a thorough investigation will find out how this happened, who are responsible and what action can be taken to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again.
My heart goes out to her family.
Sleep peacefully Rebecca Ikumelo ❤️🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/134RlPiWhw
A blogger, Ikumelo catered to the niche of motherhood and was known for the caring techniques that she used for caring for her autistic child. In a statement, her family said, "Rebecca was a graduate of nursing. She was an adorable mother of two children who loved working with kids. She was well respected in the family for her care, kindness, and love. Her parents call her Tosin (short for Oluwatosin) meaning 'Lord is Worthy'." Friends described her as a "beautiful woman" who always "radiated positive energy" and was dedicated to being the best version of herself for her kids.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Asake said, "I am devastated by the news that Rebecca Ikumelo who was in a critical condition since Thursday has sadly passed away. My sincerest condolences to her loved ones at this time. Let us please keep her family in our prayers. I have spoken to them and will continue to do so. I am overwhelmed with grief and could never have imagined anything like this happening. My team and I are still awaiting the full debrief back from the Venue management and the Police to determine what exactly led to all the disruption caused and ultimately to Rebecca’s passing."
The mother left behind two young sons named Joelle and Jamael. She had left her career in nursing and began to dedicate her time to caring for her kids. Tributes to Ikumelo flooded social media after the news broke of her tragic death, A relative, Temitope Olodo, paid tribute to the death of his favorite niece, " Today my favorite niece, Rebecca Tosin Ikumelo, died from injuries sustained from the Asake concert saga... O Tosin! You are so full of life and very protective of me. You have a smile that brightens up the room! I am so sad."
The incident is currently being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, policing commander for Lambeth and Southwark, said: "We are working incredibly closely with our partners and community members and would like to thank them for their support so far in the investigation. We would also like to thank people for coming forward with information."
The force also said that specialist officers were supporting Ikumelo’s family. Post-mortem tests will be carried out on Sunday.
References:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/brixton-academy-crush-rebecca-ikumelo-b2247439.html
https://nypost.com/2022/12/18/rebecca-ikumelo-dies-after-crowd-surge-at-asake-concert-in-london/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0NIFE4uwog
Cover Image Source: YouTube | Sky News
