A BRIT mum suddenly passed away in front of her husband and kids while on a flight back to the UK.

Helen Rhodes was excitedly heading home with her family on August 5 for a "new adventure" after living in Hong Kong for 15 years.

But a few hours into the long-haul flight, the midwife was found unresponsive after seemingly falling asleep.

Helen was unable to be resuscitated on board the aircraft.

Harrowingly, her devastated children had to sit next to their mum who had fallen into a "breathless sleep" for another eight hours.

She was cradled by her loved ones until the plane eventually landed in Frankfurt, Germany.

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Although it was "extremely traumatising" for her family, they found comfort in the fact they could say their goodbyes to her.

The mum's body remained in the German city while her heartbroken husband and kids continued onto the UK.

A GoFundMe has been launched by Helen's pal Jayne Jeje to fund the repatriation of her body as well as funeral costs.

She described the midwife as a "devoted wife and mother" who "was the glue that held her family together."

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Jayne wrote: "This fundraiser is to honor this lovely woman who was loved by so many, a dear friend who touched so many people.

"We can only hope she knew how much she meant to us., and how her void can never be filled.

"How this loss is so painful and surreal. The grief we feel is paralyzing. Yet, we feel lucky to have known her."

The family had been living in Tung Chung, Hong Kong, for over a decade and were returning home to live in the UK.

Helen had not seen her relatives of aging parents since the pandemic began – and tragically never got to see them again.

During her time there she had become "the pulse of her community" and a key member of a local motherhood group.

Jayne said Helen's profession and "generosity with her time" made her the first port of call for other mums with any medical-related questions.

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The midwife had also created her own business making bespoke bows and accessories during her time in Asia.

The fundraiser has already raised a whopping £10,281 of its £20,000 goal after just 24 hours.

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