Young Mother Tragically Dies in Sleep While Expecting Second Child

A family in Devon is mourning the unexpected loss of young mother Charlie Comer, who died in her sleep at the age of 22 while 20 weeks pregnant with her second child. Described as fit and healthy, Charlie was eagerly looking forward to welcoming her new baby, a boy she planned to name Arlo. Her mother, Carrie Burns, revealed that despite experiencing some morning sickness, Charlie was in good spirits and excited about the future.

Tragedy struck on October 13, 2023, when Charlie went to bed feeling unwell and never woke up. Carrie recounted, “My daughter passed away very suddenly; it was totally unexpected. She went to bed on the Sunday night; she hadn’t been feeling too good and never woke up again.” Following her death, a post-mortem examination was conducted, but medical professionals could not determine the cause. Carrie stated that they are awaiting further test results, with an inquest expected to take weeks.

Charlie leaves behind her 18-month-old daughter, Remi, who lives with her father. At such a young age, Remi is unable to grasp the enormity of her mother’s passing. Carrie expressed concern about the impact on Remi, saying, “We try to make sure she knows who her mum is and that she loved her so much.” The family strives to maintain a connection between Remi and Charlie’s memory.

The circumstances surrounding Charlie’s death are particularly heartbreaking, as her unborn son, Arlo, also did not survive. Carrie emphasized her desire for Arlo to remain with Charlie following the post-mortem, saying, “We requested that the baby stay with her. Because she needed the post-mortem, we asked if they could keep the baby intact.” A specialist post-mortem was arranged to ensure that Arlo was preserved with his mother.

Carrie is grappling with the lack of answers regarding her daughter’s sudden death. “It’s a real struggle, not knowing what’s caused it and why this has happened,” she stated. “If we could make some sense of it, even though there’s no sense in a 20-year-old dying, at least when you know why, you can start to process it a bit.”

Despite her previous struggles with mental health, Charlie had recently found joy and stability, according to Carrie. “She was finally in a place where she was happy and really positive about the future and excited for the baby. She was getting help for her mental health, and she was really flourishing. It was so beautiful to see.”

Described as a vibrant and bold individual, Charlie had a profound impact on those around her. Carrie remembered her daughter as someone who loved to make others laugh and would be deeply missed by all who knew her. “She was finally becoming the person she’d always wanted to be. It’s heartbreaking to lose her and baby Arlo,” she added.

In the wake of this tragedy, Carrie is working to raise funds to cover Charlie’s funeral expenses. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to assist the family during this incredibly difficult time.