Devoted mum dies aged 32 after medical emergency at music festival

01 July 2023 , 08:50

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Stephanie Thorpe, 32, died after falling ill at a music festival in Blackburn (Image: GoFundMe)

A mother has tragically died in hospital after becoming ill at a music festival.

More than £15,000 has been raised for the family of Stephanie Thorpe, who became sick while at the dance music festival Restricted Forest in Blackburn, Lancashire, last weekend.

The mum-of-one was rushed to a local hospital on Sunday, June 25, where she later died. Stephanie, 32, leaves behind her partner, Carl, and baby boy Alfie, Lancashire Live reports.

She worked as a special needs teacher as well as part-time at a social club, where friends and family gathered to celebrate her life on Thursday.

Hundreds of people turned up at St Gregory’s Social Club to set orange and purple balloons free and remember her.

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

Friend Holly McLaughlin set up a fundraising page for the pair after the tragic news. She said: "On behalf of Steph’s family and their request, I’ve set up this go fund me page not to only help with funeral cost to give our beautiful Steph the best send-off she deserves but to also help her partner Carl and baby boy Alfie at this awful devastating time.

"On June 25, our amazing funny irreplaceable, gorgeous girl's life was taken away from us so suddenly, we all as family and friends, even the community, are all so deeply devastated as you can imagine, she has left so many holes in everyone’s hearts right now.

"We want to give her the biggest send-off and obviously that comes at a great cost, we all right now would appreciate anything as a penny helps us achieve this goal, I know we can all do this together!

"Yesterday, she lit up all our Facebooks with her beautiful face. This world will not be the same without her. She was the life and soul of everyone’s life."

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: "We were called to Royal Blackburn Hospital at 3.30pm on June 25 to reports of a sudden death.

"It was reported that the previous day a woman had become ill at a music festival in Blackburn and after receiving medical attention had been taken to hospital where she sadly died.

"Her death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed to HM Coroner in due course."

Acts who performed at Restricted Forest at Witton Country Park included Judge Jules, Ultrabeat, Rozalla and K-Klass.

You can help support the family by donating here.

Melissa Major