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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Abigail Nicholson

Mum's final promise to daughter after she collapsed in airport

A mum has shared one of her final promises she made to her daughter when she died after collapsing of a heart attack in Antalya Airport.

Melissa Kinsella was on holiday with her partner, Jay Smith, his family and their three children, Chloe, nine, Beau, four, and Romi, two when she collapsed after suffering a heart attack. Instead of flying home on May 15, the 30-year-old mum was rushed to hospital.

Doctors told her family she had swelling on her brain and heart. Melissa was flown home by air ambulance and was blue lighted to Arrowe Park Hospital on Wednesday, May 24, but two days later, on May 26, the family received the devastating news that she was clinically dead.

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Melissa's mum, Michelle Heathcote, 51, and dad Steven, previously spoke to The ECHO to pay tribute to their "loving and smart" daughter. Michelle, who lives in Leasowe, said: "She lived for her girls, she was hard working, had a dirty laugh and she was such a good mummy. She had so much love for those girls.

"She was very hard working doing beauty and hair, she was a little whizzkid with the colours. She was so clever, she actually went to uni three times, trained to be an accountant but then got pregnant, then trained in nursing and got pregnant again before going back to beauty."

The family spoke of how they were trying to stay strong for the grandchildren and had just been given some books by the hospital to help tell the children what happened to their mum.

Melissa's mum, Michelle, said: "The babies don't know. We have just got some books from the hospital. One is asking 'is mummy still in the hospital' and is asking questions.

Melissa Kinsella with parents Michelle and Steven (Family handout)

"The nine-year-old is dealing with it, but we are expecting her to break. The two-year-old knows something isn't right because she hasn't seen her mummy in three weeks.

"We are going to take them away for a few days at the weekend to try and get away from it all. We, me and Steven and Melissa's boyfriend and in-laws are going to look after those girls.

"I promised Melissa I would look after them."

The family said they now just want to lay Melissa to rest with a funeral "fit for a princess". They have already arranged a horse and carriage and a white casket ready for when they are given the go ahead from the coroner.

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