Mother-of-two, 43, dies from flu as paramedics were unable to revive her in a service station

A mother-of-two who touched the lives of thousands of children is feared to have died of flu on her way back from a day out. 

Jayne Peacock, 43, from Lincolnshire, reportedly died from a rare strain of influenza on Sunday. It is currently unclear what strain it was.

Emergency services were unable to revive her when they were called after she collapsed at Wetherby service station near Leeds. 

Her devastated husband, Craig, has told how his late wife was admired in the local community after founding a club which teaches youngsters martial arts, 25 years ago.

Loss: Jayne Peacock, from Lincolnshire, died on Sunday from a rare strain of influenza

Mourning: Jayne Peacock (left) and her devastated husband, Craig, who's paid tribute her

Mourning: Jayne Peacock (left) and her devastated husband, Craig, who’s paid tribute her

‘She was the backbone of the club,’ Mr Peacock said. ‘We started over 20 years ago and she gave up her family allowance to get it started so children in the area could have somewhere to train. 

‘I owe Jayne my whole life and wish that everybody had a heart like her. 

‘She would give her last £1 to a homeless person. She would starve so that others could have food. She never had a bad word to say about anyone.’ 

Mrs Peacock was driving home from a day out with her family when she was taken ill in a service station.

She had been suffering from flu, which her family believe is what caused her death – although details of this are currently unclear.

While most people with the common cold-like virus will recover within a week or two, some can suffer serious and potentially fatal complications.

Flu can trigger the lung infection pneumonia or can trigger life-threatening swelling in the heart, brain or muscles, or cause multiple-organ failure. 

Infection in someone’s airways could also lead to sepsis – when the body’s immune system overreacts and shuts down the internal organs. 

Mrs Peacock had been publicly praised for her community work and she and Mr Peacock were finalists in Grimsby Live’s Heart of the Community awards, which honours local people, last year.

Sudden death: Jayne Peacock, pictured second from right, with her devoted family

Sudden death: Jayne Peacock, pictured second from right, with her devoted family

Nominated for their outstanding dedication to young people, their citation read: ‘Craig very rarely gets any spare time to himself or for his loving and supportive wife, Jayne, who has supported him from the start and is always there to lend a hand.’

Mrs Peacock formerly worked as a nursery nurse and she and her husband were childhood sweethearts before tying the knot in 2003.

Mr Peacock said: ‘She was utterly devoted to her grandchildren, Amelia and River. She enjoyed caravanning and socialising with friends.

‘She was good at figure skating in her younger years.’

Devoted grandmother Jayne 'nannie' Peacock with her granddaughters Amelia, left and River

Devoted grandmother Jayne ‘nannie’ Peacock with her granddaughters Amelia, left and River 

Now, a JustGiving page has been set up in her memory to help the family pay for funeral costs. 

One tribute on the page read: ‘Jayne was always kind and selfless, always ready to make us laugh and was dedicated to her family. 

‘Jayne was the childhood sweetheart of Craig, and what an amazing partnership… one we all should aspire to find in our lives.’ 

Other tributes read: ‘Jayne and Craig were an amazing team who were dedicated to helping the community of Grimsby with their charity work through their COMMA.’ 

She leaves two daughters, Bethanie and Casie and is sister to Katie, Helen and Hannah. 

She is also survived by her parents Danny and Sue Blastland and was daughter-in-law to Ann Tomlinson and Michael Peacock and a sister-in-law to Keira, Jamie and Jason.

Flu cases, which usually spike during the winter, have been relatively subdued in the UK this year.

None of the UK countries have recorded epidemic levels of the virus in any week for the past 22 weeks – with only minor rises in England and Wales. 

But NHS figures did show the strain of flu going round this year could be more serious – there have been more deaths and intensive care admissions than last year. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk