I Miss You So Much, Mummy

From the archive, first published Saturday 9th Dec 2006.

Moving tributes have been paid to a much-loved community nurse who tragically died on a hen party weekend.

Among the heartfelt messages in memory of Angela Otter, 29, is one from her nine-year-old daughter Chloe, who says: "I miss you mummy and I love you too."

And her sister Kristina Eden, 31, said: "She has left a gaping hole in all our lives.

"She was loved a great deal. Our mum and dad always referred to her as Angel and she was."

Angela, of Back Lane, Queensbury, Bradford, died at Alton Towers theme park while celebrating a friend's forthcoming wedding with a group of pals.

An inquest was told she had suffered fatal blood clots in the early hours of Monday, August 28, and was found dead in her hotel room bed.

Angela, who worked for the then Bradford South and West Primary Care Trust, had made repeated visits to her doctor about migraines, the hearing in North Staffordshire was told.

Giving evidence Nicola Hammond, who had been Angela's best friend for 20 years, said Angela had complained of feeling unwell in the hotel after the group had spent a day at the theme park.

She said: "When I got in the shower she was apparently sick. She said she felt better, we had a glass of champagne and went down for dinner.

"She seemed absolutely fine and was tucking into a steak."

Following the meal the party went on a night out to celebrate their friend's wedding. Miss Hammond added: "We had a lot to drink, we had shots and Angela was drinking pints of cider."

Lisa Robertson, who slept in the bed next to Angela, said she had complained of her heart racing and had three baths to try to calm down.

She said: "She told me I'm fine but my heart is racing, I feel like I could run a marathon.'

"At one point she was jumping up and down on the bed. I could feel her in front of me and was tickling her back but she kept fidgeting.

"I heard her during the night making a noise. I thought she had coughed so I touched her and she was cold. I got up and put a blanket over her."

Dr Daniel Van Pittius, who carried out a post-mortem examination, said there was nothing any of her friends could have done to help her.

Also giving evidence to the inquest Mrs Eden said: "The migraines she suffered could last for quite a while, in her last two months they got quite severe.

"She was bubbly, happy and hardworking. Angela had her down moments but picked herself up."

North Staffordshire Coroner Ian Smith recorded a verdict of natural causes.

After the inquest Mrs Eden said her sister and Chloe were best friends and did everything together.

She said: "They were best mates because there was just the two of them. That's something that can't be replaced."

A collection at Angela's funeral raised almost £1,000 for the NSPCC - a charity she had supported all her life.