Partner pays tribute to Prudhoe mum of three

Nov 12 2009 By Sara Nichol, The Journal

SHE lived life for her girls and had been busy arranging a surprise wedding for the man she loved.

But today, the heartbroken family of Clare Hayman are coming to terms with the tragic death of the doting mum of three, who suddenly collapsed while walking home from a friend’s house.

The normally fit-and-healthy 40-year-old was found by a passer-by slumped in a street near to her home in Prudhoe, Northumberland, on Friday.

She was taken to Hexham General Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post mortem revealed that Clare had died from a suspected brain aneurysm.

Last night, Clare’s long-term partner Joe Martin told of the heartbreaking moment he had to tell the couple’s three children, Amy, five, Lucy, four, and Megan, two, that mummy wouldn’t be coming home.

Joe, of North Wylam View, Prudhoe, said: "I couldn’t tell the children at first.

"Eventually, I had to get in bed with them and tell them what had happened to their mum but they are too young to really understand.

"I think we are all finding it hard to understand – everyone is still in shock. I found out after she died that she had been planning a surprise wedding for us in May. I can’t really describe how hard it was to hear that.

"Clare loved the outdoors. She was a bit of a daredevil and loved sports like canoeing and light-water rafting. She had always been active.

"She was a bit of a hippy-type in the way she dressed and everyone knew her for her clothes and her whacky shoes – everyone always commented on her shoes!

"She loved her children and her family and was a great mum."