The grieving parents of a woman who died a month before her 30th birthday have paid tribute to their ‘beautiful daughter’.
Sherry Campbell, a special needs teaching assistant from County Down, was found by her father, Shannon, after she choked to death on a piece of steak.
Mr Campbell discovered her body in the kitchen after coming downstairs at 4am on Thursday thinking Sherry had fallen asleep watching the television.
Sherry Campbell, a special needs teaching assistant from County Down, was found by her father, Shannon, after she choked to death on a piece of steak
He told The Belfast Telegraph: ‘It was a sight I will never forget.
‘It was terribly bad luck, a terrible shock, and it has been a complete and utter nightmare.’
Ms Campbell’s was inspired to take up her job by her mother, Fionuala, who is also a special needs teaching assistant at the same school.
Remembering her daughter, she said: ‘You have no idea how proud we were of her.
‘She was kind and sometimes she gave too much, but she said that it was better to do that than not.’
A close family friend said: ‘She lived in the family home and she was the apple of their eye, their princess – her daddy always said, “You’re my little princess”.
Mr Campbell discovered her body in the kitchen after coming downstairs at 4am on Thursday thinking Sherry had fallen asleep watching the television
Ms Campbell’s 30th birthday would have been on October 12, where a party was planned at the Royal Ulster Yacht Club in Bangor.
Mark Weir, Principal of Strangford College – where Ms Campbell taught – described her as a ‘much loved and valued member of the school community’.
He wrote on Facebook: ‘It is with great sadness that I have to tell you of the sudden death of Ms Sherry Campbell, a much loved and valued member of our school community.
‘Sherry was a Teaching and Learning Assistant, and a former student of Strangford College.
‘The students were told this morning, by their teachers, in their class groups.
‘Parents – your child may or, may not wish to talk about this, however it is likely that he, or she, may need extra love and support from you in the days ahead.’
Friends and colleagues also paid their respects to Ms Campbell.
Linda Braiden Adgey commented: ‘So so sad thoughts and prayers with her family and friends gone to soon.’
Elizabeth Johnston wrote: ‘Such sad news. I just can’t take it in. My thoughts and prayers are with Fionuala and Shannon. But also with the school community.’
And another well-wisher said: ‘Devastating news thoughts and prayers with her family so sad gone far too soon.’