Hundreds gather to remember tragic Stourbridge College student at funeral
She had her whole life ahead of her. But it was cruelly cut short after she suffered a devastating blood clot at the age of just 18.
Relatives of Laura Pincher today spoke of their continuing disbelief less than a month after they lost her.
The health and social care student at Stourbridge College died at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley from a blood clot in her lungs.
On Friday, hundreds gathered to remember Laura at her funeral at St Benedict Biscop Church in Wombourne.
The former Ounsdale High School pupil, who lived in Hadcroft Grange, Stourbridge, leaves behind her parents Andrew and Jane Pincher as well as sister Emma, brother Matthew, plus two step-brothers Ryan and Reece and a step-sister Charlotte.
She also leaves behind her fiancé, Richard Clews, her partner of two years.
Mr Pincher, aged 47, said: "She was a lovely child – a really, really happy girl who always wanted to have fun.
"Losing her has been tough on the whole family.
"I don't think we can really believe she has gone."
He added: "I'd like to thank the community for all its support following her death."
At her funeral, the family asked mourners to donate money to The Beacon Centre For The Blind in Sedgley after the charity had helped Laura as she suffered Stargardt disease.
The condition meant she was gradually losing her eyesight.
Mr Pincher said the family planned to spread his daughter's ashes and plant a rose tree in Stourbridge in memory of her.
However, nothing has yet been organised following her funeral only last week.
Earlier this month, an inquest into her death was opened at Smethwick Coroners Court.
The hearing was told Laura had died from a bilateral pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis due to morbid obesity. Mr Angus Smillie, assistant coroner for the Black Country, adjourned the matter for an inquest after concerns were raised by her family about previous hospital admissions.
The hearing will take place on February 4.
