Tragic young wife dies suddenly in husband's arms
A devastated husband has told how his childhood sweetheart died in his arms at 31 – just a month before their first wedding anniversary.
Devoted mother of two Gemma Sinclair was struck by Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, dying in her bed, in the arms of husband Jamie, just as she got up to go out to work, an inquest heard.
She was rushed to New Cross Hospital but could not be saved and was pronounced dead on July 5, 2012.
Mr Sinclair, aged 33, told of the horrific moment he woke up at their home in Wolverhampton and heard his wife gurgling.
Ive lost my best friend and my perfect soulmate
He told coroner Robin Balmain he initially laughed when he heard the noises, thinking she was playing a joke on him.
He said: "She was sitting up in bed making a weird noise, not quite gurgling and not struggling for breath. It's hard to describe.
"I'll never forget, she had her back to me and I was laughing, saying: 'what are you making that noise for?'
"I then knew she was in trouble and I shouted and screamed for the kids and called an ambulance.
Mr Sinclair told the coroner: "She never screamed out of shouted for help – nothing. It was like something just switched off. She died in my arms."
At an inquest held at Walsall Manor Hospital yesterday, the coroner concluded she had died of natural causes.
Pathologist Dr Smita Deshpande gave the cause of death as sudden adult death syndrome. He said: "Unfortunately we cannot pinpoint what the exact cause is."
Mrs Sinclair, of Victoria Road, Bradmore, who had no pre-existing medical conditions when she died, was a former pupil of Ounsdale High School in Wombourne and worked at The Greedy Pig Cafe in Lower Horseley Fields, Wolverhampton.
