THE heartbroken friend of a mum who died suddenly on Monday is sharing her story and praising her 11-year-old son who tried everything to help.

Helen Parry-Edwards, from Haresfinch, has been described as a "perfect mum" devoting her life to her children James, 11 and Emily, eight.

Her husband Jason works on fishing ships in Scotland for four weeks then is home for a fortnight.

 So on Monday Helen was at home alone with her two children when she became ill.

Helen's familyHelen's family (Image: Helen's family)

It was then that her brave son took charge, following paramedics' instructions and taking care of his sister in a bid to save his mum.

Sadly she died later in hospital.

Her friend Gemma Shawcross said: “Helen was like Mary Poppins and Bear Grylls in one, she had a bag that had everything in it from platers to insect repellent because she didn’t drive and no matter the issue she had the right stuff.

“She loved being outdoors and mostly she was just a perfect mum, truly devoted to the kids and to Jason, she was amazing. We don’t know what we are all going to do without her, she was always the mum in the group who knew when everything was happening.”

Helen and JamesHelen and James (Image: Helen's family)

Recalling the sad details of Monday, Gemma added: “Jason was working away and from what James said his mum got up in the morning to get them ready for school and went to their bathroom downstairs to be sick and then collapsed half way back up the stairs.

“Through slurred speech she shouted for James to help and he called his dad, who kept him on the phone while he called 999 and paramedics told him what to do to help Helen.

“He kept really calm and did everything right, he also kept his little sister calm while he did all this.

“Another friend went in the ambulance with Helen and when they kept trying to revive her but when she got to hospital they told her that they would have to stop the machines.

(Image: Helen's family)

“Jason left immediately when he found out, but he was still two hours away from home when he got the call to say Helen had died. It is just so tragic honestly.”

The cause of former Tesco worker Helen’s death is yet to be determined, however, her friends have set up a fundraiser in her memory to help the family at this time.

Gemma added: “Jay will have to leave his job now as Helen was a stay at home mum, they didn’t have anyone family wise to help them with the kids so they are really going to struggle now.

“We just want to help in whatever way we can, she really was amazing and this is so sad.

(Image: Helen's family)

"We also want to really praise James because he was so brave, he did everything he could and he should be really proud of himself.

"Helen would have been so proud of him and all his mum's friends are and his da and sister are too.”

The fundraiser for the family has currently garnered £900 in donations, to donate go to gofundme.com/f/help-for-helens-family