A father has praised his teenage son and brother-in-law for their efforts to try to save his wife after she collapsed on the way home from a family outing.

Ginny Westlake, 38, slumped in the seat of the car as they drove home to Clacton from a theatre trip to London's West End.

Adrian Westlake, 16, performed chest compressions on his mother while her brother Neil Green carried out mouth-to-mouth recusitation at the roadside.

Mr Green continued to help paramedics in the ambulance but Mrs Westlake was pronounced dead shortly after her arrival at Colchester General Hospital.

A post mortem examination showed the cause of death was a burst blood vessel in the brain. Nick Westlake, of Eastcliff Avenue, Clacton, said: "They are both expert lifesavers and they were absolutely marvellous."

Along with Mrs Westlake's son Ian, 15, and mother, Hilary Green, they had been to see West Side Story.

Mrs Westlake had first felt unwell on the way into London and lost consciousness. An ambulance was called and paramedics checked her blood pressure, pulse and took a sample of blood.

Mr Westlake said they were all normal and his wife, who felt better by then, decided to go to the theatre, but slept in the car while the rest went for a meal.

"She was fine at the theatre, her normal self and just felt a bit tired," he added.

It was on the way back when they reached the A120 that Mr Westlake noticed his wife had slumped in the front seat and he pulled over.

Mr Westlake paid tribute to his wife who was a swimming teacher. He said: "Ginny taught thousands of children to swim over the years and she was so well liked by them all.

"She was with Clacton Swimming Club for almost 30 years and we met there."

A service will be held at Weeley Crematorium on Monday at 2pm. The family has asked for donations to Cardiac Risk in the Young rather than flowers.

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