35-year-old mother who disappeared after her fiance died just two weeks before their wedding feared dead after body found in river
Police discovered a body while searching for a missing mother who had disappeared after her fiance died of a heart attack just two weeks before their wedding.
35-year-old Helen O'Brien went missing after she had to plan Kevin Reilly's funeral after he died of a heart attack at their Chesire home last year. She was visiting friends in the Stockton Heath area at around 10 pm on September 25 when she mysteriously disappeared, Daily Mail reports.
Authorities in search of her recovered a body from the River Mersey near Seacombe at around 5.20 pm on Wednesday, October 2. While the corpse had not been formally identified as yet, police believe it is that of Helen's.
The death is not believed to be suspicious and the family has been informed of the same, authorities said. "We can confirm that a woman's body was discovered in the Mersey near Seacombe Ferry Terminal," Merseyside Police said of the incident. "Emergency services were called at around 1.35 pm to a report that the body of a woman had been seen in the water."
"Officers, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, the coastguard and North West Ambulance Service attended and the woman was removed from the water near Seacombe Ferry Terminal at around 5.20 pm," they explained. "She was pronounced dead at the scene and inquiries are ongoing to identify the woman and notify her next of kin."
Helen had lost almost "everyone she has ever become close to", her childhood friend Lisa Johnson revealed.
"It left her to care for their two young boys. Instead of planning the final touches to her wedding day, she had to plan a funeral," Johnson, 39, told The Mirror. "Helen has lost everyone she has ever become close to. Her dad died, she lost her sister in a car crash in 2000, and then this with Kevin."
"She was absolutely distraught." Johnson continued. "She really struggled afterwards but was managing because of her two boys. It is hard to believe that she could have hurt herself though."
Friends and loved ones shared their condolences on Facebook, with Hayley Ruane-Musgrave thanking everyone for "helping to bring Helen home to her family."
"You have been a tremendous help but unfortunately bringing Helen home safely was not to be," she said. "I have spent a week tossing and turning, willing you to come home. Please please bear in mind her two gorgeous boys and family when you are posting on social media & allow the family time to grieve."
"Our beautiful lady has been found and we want to thank everyone for their efforts in looking for her," another friend Nicola Wright wrote on Facebook. "Can everyone please allow us some time and space and be mindful of family and children."