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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Andy Richardson & Bradley Jolly

Family's heartbreak as much-loved gran, 45, dies pushing granddaughter in pram

A "beautiful and caring" gran collapsed and died on a city street as she pushed her granddaughter in her pram.

Michelle Wilkes, 45, suddenly fell unwell after taking 18-month-old Freya to the shops.

Despite the best efforts of passersby and paramedics, Michelle lost her life at the scene.

Birmingham Live reports the mum-of-four 's post-mortem showed she suffered a cardiac arrest caused by undiagnosed heart disease.

Her heartbroken daughter Rachel Knight, 28, said: "As a family, we are in total shock. We were planning how to celebrate her 46th birthday which was days away - now we are planning her funeral.

Michelle Wilkes died suddenly at the age of 45 in Birmingham (BPM MEDIA)

"Michelle was a beautiful, caring person who was devoted to her four children and granddaughter. She adored them all. We are all devastated and trying to come to terms with what has happened."

Rachel is grateful for the help of strangers who tried to revive Michelle on the road in Selly Oak, Birmingham, on June 5.

She added: "She had just been to the shops and was walking to the home of my niece when she collapsed in the street. We have seen the CCTV footage from a nearby home because we wanted to know exactly what happened.

The grandmother had an undiagnosed heart condition (BPM MEDIA)
Michelle, of Selly Oak, Birmingham, had just visited the shops with her granddaughter when she collapsed (BPM MEDIA)

"As she pushes the buggy she just drops to the floor. A man in a car stops and goes to her aid, as do other people. They carry out CPR on her until paramedics arrive. We are comforted to know people went to help her and she wasn't alone and want to thank the people who helped her."

Michelle, from Selly Oak, was married to husband Gary and also leaves behind children Katie, 23, Matthew 22, Lauren, 20 and 18-year-old Sophie. She also had a brother Jon and parents Linda and Terry.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We were called at 8.19am on June 5 to reports of a medical emergency on Corisande Road in Selly Oak.

"Two ambulances and the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car attended the scene. On arrival we discovered one patient, a woman, who was in cardiac arrest with bystanders performing CPR. Ambulance staff took over and immediately began administering advanced life support.

"However, despite everyone’s best efforts it sadly became apparent nothing could be done to save her and she was confirmed dead at the scene.”

Sarah has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help pay for Michelle's funeral costs.

To donate to the cause click here.

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