• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Friend of mum who died in sleep on flight 'overwhelmed with gratitude' as GoFundMe passes £20,000

Home> News

Updated 17:36 9 Aug 2022 GMT+1Published 17:32 9 Aug 2022 GMT+1

Friend of mum who died in sleep on flight 'overwhelmed with gratitude' as GoFundMe passes £20,000

Helen Rhodes was returning to the UK with her family to start a new chapter when she died in her sleep

Daisy Phillipson

Daisy Phillipson

The friend of a mum who died in her sleep on a flight to the UK has expressed ‘overwhelming gratitude’ to people who donated to a GoFundMe campaign.

Following the tragic news of Helen Rhodes’ passing, Jayne Jeje set up the crowdfunding page in order to raise money to help the family, who had been travelling back from Hong Kong with Helen when she died. 

An original goal of £20,000 has been surpassed, and is over £23,000 at the time of writing - a figure that continues to rise at rapid speed. 

Advert

In response, the family friend wrote: “To all who have known Helen or been touched by her story, thank you for the kind messages and support. We are overwhelmed with gratitude.”

Helen Rhodes sadly died in her sleep on a flight with her family.
ScotStock/Alamy Stock Photo

She later added: “I know in my heart that this blessing for the Rhodeses would sit well with Helen. She wouldn’t want her family to have more things to worry about. 

“This is why I created this fundraiser - to help, when I feel utterly helpless to do anything more impactful to ease their grief. So, I would like to say thank you again.”

Helen had been returning to the UK with her husband Simon and their two children Nathan and Emma to start a new chapter, having lived in Hong Kong for 15 years.

Advert

But a few hours into the flight on Friday (5 August), the midwife was found unresponsive and could not be resuscitated.

"This all unfolded in front of her children," said Jayne. "For the remaining eight hours of the flight, Helen lay in a breathless sleep in her seat.

"Although this was extremely traumatising to the family, they all had time to say what they needed to say to her."

GoFundMe

After landing in Frankfurt, Germany, Helen's body remained there, while her family had to fly on to the UK.

Advert

Jayne continued: "Needless to mention, they are devastated. This loss is unimaginable. Helen was a devoted wife and mother. She was the glue that held her family together."

She was described as 'one of a kind, a gem', and 'the pulse of her community in Tung Chung', where she was an early member of a tight-knit mums support group. 

She also ran a business making bespoke bows and accessories.

The money raised on GoFundMe will be used for any unexpected costs such as Helen’s funeral, support for the children as Simon grieves the loss of his wife, and creating a legacy in honour of the late midwife. 

Those who’d like to donate can do so here. 

Advert

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677 

Featured Image Credit: GoFundMe

Topics: UK News, News

Daisy Phillipson
Daisy Phillipson

Daisy graduated from Kingston University with a degree in Magazine Journalism, writing a thesis on the move from print to digital publishing. Continuing this theme, she has written for a range of online publications including Digital Spy and Little White Lies, with a particular passion for TV and film. Contact her on [email protected]

X

@DaisyWebb77

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 mins ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • 3 mins ago

    Average penis size in UK as urologist explains truth behind 'Ozempic penis'

    Could the GLP-1 drug be playing a part in the UK's new average penis size?

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Billionaire will leave £10 billion fortune to 100 children he has all around the world

    How do I find out if i'm part of his army of kids?

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Brits issued major warning over 'most important threat to health' that will lead to 30,000 deaths in 2025

    It affects pretty much everybody in the world

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Health professionals issue major warning over viral Lemon Bottle weight loss injectable

    Influencers have been promoting Lemon Bottle on social media

    News
  • Son of mum who died in horror skydiving accident recalls chilling joke she made before her death
  • Mum of daughter, 19, who returned from festival with 'headache' issues warning after she died in sleep
  • Flight bound for UK crashes with over 240 passengers reportedly on board
  • Pilot's 'tragic final words' on Air India flight suggest what went wrong as black box found