A family has been left devastated after a mum died in her sleep while flying back to the UK as she returned home after living in Hong Kong for 15 years. Helen Rhodes, a midwife described as a "one-of-a-kind" mum, was travelling with her family as her "new adventure" lay ahead.
But, tragically, a few hours into the flight on Friday, August 5, Helen was found to be unresponsive and couldn't be resuscitated. Heartbreakingly, her children sat next to her in a "breathless sleep" for the remaining eight hours of the flight to Frankfurt, the first leg of the journey to the UK.
Although it was "extremely traumatising", the family said it gave them the opportunity to say their final goodbyes to their beloved mum, reports the Mirror. Helen's body stayed in the German city while her husband and children carried on their journey to the UK.
Jayne Jeje, who set up a fundraiser to help the grieving family, explained how Helen was feeling before her final flight.
She said: "Helen and her family wrapped up a life in Hong Kong of over 15 years to embark on a new chapter living back home in the UK. Helen was excited and nervous about the move, but looked forward to seeing her family back home, as she had not seen her family or ageing parents since the pandemic began.
"Sadly, she never got to see them again. Helen was one of a kind, a gem. She was a midwife by profession, and was always willing to lend a helping hand or advice to anyone who needed it. Helen loved to talk and made friends easily."
While living in Hong Kong's Tung Chung area, Helen became the "pulse of her community" and would be stopped on the street by all the people she knew. She became an invaluable member of a motherhood group in the district and would be their point of reference for anything medical-related, Jayne said.
In a tribute towards the end of the post, Jayne added: "This fundraiser is to honour this lovely woman who was loved by so many, a dear friend who touched so many people. We can only hope she knew how much she meant to us., and how her void can never be filled. How this loss is so painful and surreal.
"The grief we feel is paralysing. Yet, we feel lucky to have known her."
Helen, who ran her own business making bespoke bows and accessories, was a "devoted wife and mother" and "the glue that held her family together", Jayne said earlier.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with unexpected expenses and to "honour our dear friend Helen".
