Mum dies of 'broken heart' weeks after son’s sudden death

A heartbroken mother has died just weeks after her 10-year-old son passed away suddenly after complaining of chest pains.

Ashley Tomlin from the UK town of South Shields said her entire world "caved in” in the hours after her beloved Jak died in hospital of a ruptured artery.

Jak’s death came just one day after his grandfather passed away.

“In 22 hours, everything has been taken away from us. Our whole world has just caved in,” Ashley said in an emotional tribute in the days after Jak's death.

'It's ironic it was his heart because Jak had the biggest heart. He has given me the best 10 years of my life."

Ashley Tomlin died just weeks after her son Jak passed away. Source: Facebook
Ashley Tomlin died just weeks after her son Jak passed away. Source: Facebook
Jak's mum Ashley Tomlin said her little boy had a
Jak's mum Ashley Tomlin said her little boy had a

“This was a total shock and out of the blue.”

Just weeks later, while mourning at her parents’ house, Ashley’s mother, Jill, found her having a seizure in the bathroom.

Paramedics were called but Ashley couldn't be saved. It is suspected all three family members succumbed to the same condition.

“Jill heard a noise and when she went in, she found Ashley having a seizure. The paramedics couldn't bring her round,” Ashley’s devastated father, Keith Tomlin said.

“They think it was a massive heart attack, but I have my first meeting with the coroner and he told me he wishes they could put 'broken heart' on the death certificate, because that is basically what it was.”

Jak pictured with his dad Tony. Picture: ChronicleLive
Jak pictured with his dad Tony. Picture: ChronicleLive

Adding to what has already been a month of unfathomable pain, Mr Tomlin said he believed his 32-year-old daughter was starting to show signs of improvement in the days before her death.

“Ashley was our only child. I've lost almost my whole family in a matter of four weeks. Jill has lost the main focus of her life. They were her life,” Mr Tomlin added.

“She had just started to make plans to move forward after the tragic loss of Jak and was the best she had been since he passed away.”

Tributes have flooded in for the “adoring mother” and her soccer-mad son, taken too soon.

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