A teenager has recalled the devastating moment that he held his dead mum in his arms.
Bryan Colgan, aged 19, discovered his mum, Serena Colgan, lifeless at her home on December 12, 2021.
The young man made the heartbreaking find after visiting her at her home in Farnworth, Lancashire, as reported by Lancs Live.
Bryan chapped on the door as part of one of his regular visits but got no answer.
It was not until he peered through her ground-floor bedroom window that he saw her lying lifeless in her bed.
The teenager hurriedly tried to force his way into the property before calling for help.
Paramedics finally reached Serena after breaking down the front door, but at this point, it was already too late.
Sadly, Serena had been dead for several hours, she was just 42-years-old.
“I rushed over to her; I was feeling so weak,” Bryan said.
“I just knew. It was horrible. The paramedic said: ‘Darling, your mum has been gone a while,’ and I just broke down. I stayed with my mum from when I found her. It was haunting to see her like that.
“I kept her in my arms for as long as I could.
“I was sat talking to her for two hours, all the emergency services were there with me. They let me sit with her.”
Although Serena's death is yet to be confirmed, Bryan explained how she has suffered from multiple sclerosis for several years. The circumstances surrounding her death are not believed to be suspicious.
Before falling ill, mum-of-two Serena had worked as a barmaid in several pubs across Bolton. An avid combat sports fan, she loved watching boxing as well as having interests in singing and music.
New dad Bryan had been looking forward to spending his first Christmas together with his seven-month-old son Rylee. But now he says Christmas will “never be the same”.
“I’m finding it very hard every single day,” he added.
“I’m struggling. It’s so weird; she used to come around every day. She would do anything for me and my son. We were all looking forward to our first Christmas with Rylee. Christmas will never be the same. We would talk non-stop every day through social media and visits. She had a very special bond with me and my partner.”
Bryan, who works at Tesco, is currently off sick due to suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.
The teenager is now trying to raise funds to help pay for his mother's funeral, which is due to take place on January 13.
Bryan has been left with the responsibility of organising the service and says he is struggling to raise the money needed.
He’s set up a GoFundMe page to help give Serena the “best send-off”.
So far, it has raised £1,605.
Bryan continued: “My girlfriend keeps me going and everyone online saying nice things about her. I believe we’re all going to the same place one day.”
To donate to the fundraiser, follow the link by clicking here.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
