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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Megan Shaw & Sophie Halle-Richards

Tragedy as mum-of-two, 40, dies suddenly after collapsing at home

A "devoted" and "inspirational" mum-of-two has left behind two little girls after she suddenly collapsed and died at home.

Rachel Kennedy sadly never regained consciousness after the incident at her home and later passed away in hospital on Sunday 19 February, leaving her two daughters without their mum.

She had been struggling with ongoing health complications after catching coronavirus. Her friend Eve Hoyle says she believes Rachel was struggling with unresolved issues and was in ill health at the time of death. Her cause of death has not been confirmed.

READ MORE: 'Our healthy daughter told us her belly hurt... twelve hours later we'd lost her'

The tragedy comes just seven years after the 40-year-old mum of two, from Honley in West Yorkshire, lost her baby to a condition so rare that there are only 100 confirmed cases in the world, Yorkshire Live reports.

The tot's condition left her with only one working kidney, a heart defect in her aorta known as a coarctatian of the heart a and cyst on the brain.

"Lovable" 15-month-old, Ashleigh Kennedy, died at Calderdale Royal Hospital surrounded by her family in March 2016. Rachel went on to have another daughter.

And now, Rachel's close friend, Eve has paid tribute to the "beautiful soul and the best mum", whom she describes as being like her "unbiological twin".

Eve said: "We met initially through Facebook but over the years we grew closer and closer and became a support system for each other, we had been through similar experiences so we were able to relate to one another.

"She picked me up when I was having a rough time, we used to joke about the fact we must have been twins because we were so similar, we were cut of the same cloth."

And now, Eve has set up a GoFundme page with hopes to raise enough money to cover the cost of Rachel's funeral and also to provide support for her family and her two girls.

Eve said: "I can't do anything to help Rachel now but I would love to be able to help provide for her girls and her family and to help with the funeral costs.

"I'm absolutley devastated we have lost such an amazing woman, I want to do everything I can now to help her girls. I know it doesn't bring their mum back but if we can at least try give them a bit of financial stability.

"The response so far has moved me to tears, we managed to raise £500 in just 24 hours with one person donating a huge £200. I haven't got a figure or end goal in mind, I'd just like to be able to raise as much as we possible can."

Anyone wishing to donate should click, here.

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