Tributes paid to India Headlam, a Whitby mum with a heart of gold

Tributes have been flooding in for a much-loved young Whitby mum with a “heart of gold”.
India Headlam and her son Cole.India Headlam and her son Cole.
India Headlam and her son Cole.

India Headlam, who was just 26 and had a two-year-old son, died suddenly after suffering a brain haemorrhage last Thursday night.

Her loved ones have spoken of their devastation at losing the cherished mother, fiancee, daughter, sister and friend.

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“She was sassy, loud and had a heart of gold,” said one of her sisters, Kerri Hall.

India Headlam with partner Chris Jackson and their son Cole.India Headlam with partner Chris Jackson and their son Cole.
India Headlam with partner Chris Jackson and their son Cole.

India had been engaged to Chris Jackson since her birthday in 2019, and the couple were looking forward to planning their wedding.

Her family said she was an “amazing” mum to two-year-old Cole.

“She was such a good mum.

"She would send lots of videos of Cole getting up to mischief and she would be laughing.

India Headlam (second left) with her sisters Kerri and Evie and mum Roz.India Headlam (second left) with her sisters Kerri and Evie and mum Roz.
India Headlam (second left) with her sisters Kerri and Evie and mum Roz.

"She wanted him to have fun,” said Kerri.

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“As far as we’re concerned, Chris is our brother now and we’ll help bring Cole up as India would have wanted.”

India, who lived in Lythe, went to East Whitby School, Eskdale School and Caedmon College.

She worked at Sainsbury’s in Whitby before becoming a trainee dispenser at the town’s branch of Boots.

India HeadlamIndia Headlam
India Headlam

Kerri said India enjoyed her work and many of her colleagues and customers have been in touch to say how much she helped them and made them laugh.

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She had two sisters - Kerri, 40, and 23-year-old Evie, who said India was a loyal friend who enjoyed spending time with her closest mates.

India’s mum, Roz Headlam, said India was always offering to help her.

“She was a massive prop to me,” she said. “She was a really caring girl.”

India was at home and had complained of a headache before she became unresponsive last Thursday evening.

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Chris rang for an ambulance and she was taken to The James Cook University Hospital.

Evie is a nurse there in the intensive care unit and was working a night shift when a consultant told her that her sister had been brought into A and E.

India was being taken for a scan when she stopped breathing.

She was put on a life support machine but doctors told her loved ones that she could not be saved.

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Her family asked for her organs to be donated, as India had requested, and know that two transplants have already taken place.

They want to thank the paramedics and fire crew who responded to Chris’s 999 call and cared for India, as well as all the hospital staff who treated her.

“They were unbelievable,” said Kerri. “They looked after us so well.”

The hospital has given the family a memory box including two penguin teddies - one that will stay with India and another for Cole, and some friendship bands.

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Her family has been left staggered by the huge number of people who have donated to an online fundraiser in India’s memory.

Initially launched by a friend to help cover funeral costs, the page has seen hundreds of people donating and collected more than £14,000 in less than 24 hours.

Many have left messages on the page and across social media with tributes to India.

Click here to donate to the fund.

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