Heart attack mum from Chester loses fight for life

Dec 15 2009 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

A FAMILY is facing Christmas without their loved one after she failed to recover from a heart attack abroad which left her brain-damaged.

Andrea Salkeld, from Sussex Road, Newton, who was described by her mum as “bubbly”, leaves two teenage sons.

Andrea died aged just 35 at the Countess of Chester Hospital four-and-a-half months after suffering a heart attack while on holiday with family in Barcelona.

It was standing room only at her funeral at Chester Crematorium on Friday where Andrea’s body was taken on a horse-drawn carriage in a fitting farewell.

Her mother Carol Jones, 60, from Hope, said: “She was lovely. She was just so bubbly. She loved singing karaoke songs and it would have been her birthday in January.

“She wouldn’t have been bothered about Christmas, she would have said ‘It’s my birthday soon.”

Andrea, who could respond by moving her fingers and occasionally smiling, was due to be transferred to a brain injury unit near Sheffield for Christmas.

Carol was to spend Christmas day with Andrea and her daughter’s sons Christopher, 17, and Kieran, 18, with presents at the foot of the bed.

“I’m just dreading Christmas,” said Carol, who is looking after the boys at the moment. “It’s written off as far as I’m concerned.”

She said Andrea had been a friend as well as a daughter and had introduced her to many of her numerous pals.

Asked how she was coping, Carol responded: “I don’t even know. It’s so sad for the boys.”

The July holiday in Barcelona was intended to help Andrea on the road to recovery after she was left injured in a motorbike accident last year.

She went away with mum Carol, brother Wayne and his wife Jeannette from Penyffordd and their children plus Jeannette’s sister and cousin.

But Andrea became ill towards the end of the week-long break and a doctor was called. Mystery surrounds what caused Andrea to have a heart attack but a post mortem may shed light on whether an anti-sickness drug administered to her played any part.

Andrea, accompanied by her mum, was brought home by air ambulance after an insurance wrangle was sorted out.

But Andrea suffered “infection after infection” and finally died of pneumonia at 4.45am on November 29 surrounded by family.