Paula Moulton, a wheelchair dancer who found fame on Britain's Got Talent, has died. She had spent many years battling the superbug MRSA, but it's been reported that she 'died suddenly' at the age of 52.
She co-founded Strictly Wheels, a Manchester-based foundation that works to promote wheelchair dancing as a social activity and at competitive levels.
Strictly Wheels posted on Facebook: "We are devastated to announce the sudden passing of our co-founder Paula. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this extremely sad time.
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"Paula's legacy will always live in our memories from her utter joy of dance."
The cause of death has not been announced, reports MirrorOnline.
Followers paid their condolences, with one person commenting: "I am so sorry to hear this. My condolences."
"Oh no so sad I had the opportunity to meet Paula she was kind and thoughtful," another said.
Fans of the ITV talent show will remember her from the 2012 series where she appeared with pal Gary Lyness as 'Strictly Wheels'. The talented duo performed for the judges with the song Empire State of Mind by Alicia Keys.
Judge David Walliams was impressed with their routine, which included flips and spins around the stage, and told them: "That was amazing, you turned what might've been a negative into a positive."
Amanda Holden was in awe and complimented them: "Your control and the way you move in that wheelchair is fantastic."
They reached the semi-finals and danced to Olly Murs' Dance With Me Tonight.
Alesha Dixon said of their fun routine: "You're proving that anything is possible if you put your mind to it."
Simon Cowell also pointed out: "It was good fun actually [and] you looked like you were enjoying it."
They started dancing two years before joining Britain's Got Talent and competed around Europe. Paula contracted MRSA while she was in the hospital suffering from pneumonia.
The superbug left her with a damaged pelvis, lower spine, hips and femur.
Speaking to Daily Star, she said: “It was 17 years ago when I got MRSA. I was so ill I can’t remember a lot about it. It should have killed me because I had septicaemia. I’m lucky to be alive.”
