Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Ryan Fahey

Brit mum dies on plane in front of her kids as they're flying back to the UK

A family has been left "traumatised" after a mum died suddenly while flying back to the UK.

"One of a kind" mum and midwife Helen Rhodes was travelling with her family as part of a "new adventure" returning home after spending 15 years living in Hong Kong.

A few hours in, Helen was found unresponsive and couldn't be resuscitated after passing away in her sleep.

Tragically, for the remaining eight hours of the flight, Helen's broken children sat next to their mum in a "breathless sleep" until they landed in Frankfurt, a friend of the family wrote.

Though it was an "extremely traumatising" experience, the "devastated" family had the opportunity to say their last goodbyes while sitting beside her.

An exciting new chapter awaited the family on their return to the UK, but tragedy struck (REUTERS/Tyrone Siu)

When they arrived Helen's body stayed in the German city while her husband and kids continued on to the UK, leaving behind the "glue that held the family together".

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.

If you want to help raise money for the family, visit their GoFundMe page here

Helen was the 'pulse of her community' in Hong Kong (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"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.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with extra expenses (Qin Louyue/China News Service via Getty Images)

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".

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.