21-year-old in shock death from pneumonia

A 21-year-old Kidderminster woman died in bed from pneumonia less than two days after falling ill with flu-like symptoms.

Lisa Wimbush's mother, Amanda Tovey, lay next to her bed through the night and raised the alarm when she did not wake up the next day at the home they shared in Trimpley Drive, Kidderminster.

An inquest at Stourport heard yesterday that Lisa, a volunteer at the British Heart Foundation shop in Kidderminster, died on November 25 from acute bronchopneumonia and a verdict of 'natural causes' was recorded.

Tributes to Lisa flooded in after her sudden death, with more than 100 messages posted on a social networking site. They were summed up by one saying "things like this aren't meant to happen to such nice people so young".

Lisa's uncle, Steve Jones, aged 52, formerly of Cinder Bank, Netherton, but now of Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, said: "It's very scary that it could have happened within 48 hours of her feeling ill."

Mr Jones added that he, his wife, Lesley, and Lisa's 49-year-old mother, Mandy, all wanted to praise Kidderminster police and the coroner's office for the way they had dealt with the family.

"They were efficient but also extremely compassionate - we think they went beyond the call of duty and can't thank them enough," he said.

Lisa, a former pupil at Wolverley High School, near Kidderminster, was described by Mr Jones as a "very quiet and always polite" girl, who loved dogs and had brought up her border collie, Inca, up from a puppy.

"We didn't realise just how many friends she had until the funeral - about 200 were there, many of which she used to talk to every night on Facebook," he said.

Mr Jones added that the family wanted to praise Kidderminster police and the coroner's office for the "efficient and extremely compassionate' way they had dealt with the family."

Christine Jones, manager of the British Heart Foundation in Kidderminster, said: "Lisa had only been volunteering with us for four or five weeks - she was a volunteer on a work placement for people who are unemployed.

"She was a lovely girl and she looked after the shoes and handbags in the shop.

"We were devastated and shocked when she died."