The heartbroken parents of a mum-of-three who was tragically found dead on the railway line in Ashton-under-Lyne have paid tribute to their 'smiley' and 'bubbly' daughter.
Colette Fazackerley, 40, was pronounced dead on Easter Sunday (April 9) after police were called to reports of a woman near the train tracks, close to the Ashton Cricket Club.
The mum-of-three, who had battled with epilepsy and mental health struggles, was last seen two days before, on April 7, and had been reported as missing the following day.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Colette's parents Julie and Ian, who run the Wagon and Horses pub in Gorton, said: "She was such a smiley and happy person. She was the life and soul of every party and everyone who met her just adored her.
"Because of how happy she was and how she was always smiling, nobody would have known about her mental health struggles. We are a very close-knit family. If there was ever a problem, Colette was always the first person to call us."
After Colette's passing, family and friends met up to release balloons into the air in a touching memorial to remember her. Her family are now planning her funeral together.
"It was eye-opening and amazing to see that she had touched so many people. Old friends and people from her childhood we hadn't seen for years were there to pay their respects.
"As a person, you'd never know she was suffering. We are now all supporting one another as a family."
British Transport Police said the last confirmed sighting of Colette was at around 8.10pm on the Friday (April 7) outside Bar 15 on George Street in Ashton-under-Lyne. Officers are now trying to trace her last movements and have said her death is not being treated as suspicious.
Reflecting on fond memories of her daughter, Julie said that Colette was 'always the first to lend a hand and help others'. She was also a friendly face who was loved by locals at their Gorton pub where she worked on weekends.
"One story I remember is, about six years ago, she was going to hospital to visit her mother-in-law and there was a woman in labour in the foyer," Julie said. "The next think I knew, our Colette had a newborn baby in her hands. She caught the baby as the woman was pushing. She was quick and that was her instinct."
Colette, who particularly struggled with her mental health due to her epilepsy, leaves behind her parents Julie and Ian, partner Mike, brothers Michael and Christopher, sister Emma and three children Hollie, Alex and Hannah.
Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Oliver Jemson from the British Transport Police said: “We need help to establish what Colette was doing in the hours after she was last seen – at around 8.10pm on Friday 7 April outside Bar 15 in George Street, Ashton under Lyne and when her body was found on Sunday 9 April.
"We’re analysing Ashton town centre CCTV but if you have dashcam footage you might think is useful, or a personal video doorbell, please let us know.
“While we are not treating her death as suspicious, is important to her family to know what happened in the hours leading up to her death and so I urge anyone who saw Colette to get in touch as soon as they can.”
Anyone with information can contact BTP by calling 0800 40 50 40 or texting 61016 with the reference 328 of 9 April.
