My best mate & her baby died last Christmas – I’ll never get over the loss
THE best friend of a mum and baby who tragically died last Christmas today spoke for the first time of her grief.
Stacey Hackett, 35, said that she will “never get over” the loss of her friend Natalie Kane and Natalie’s infant son Harry on December 24, 2021.
The bereaved pal added that she will forever live with the guilt of wondering if she could have saved the young mum.
Stacey had planned on spending Christmas last year with Natalie and Harry in Whitehaven, Cumbria.
But tragedy struck that Christmas Eve when Natalie, 27, took her own life. Baby Harry, aged one, died due to dehydration some time later.
Cops believe the little boy may have survived for two or three days after his mum’s death.
His body was found in the bathroom of their flat, while Natalie’s was in the living room next to unopened Christmas presents.
Their bodies were not found until December 30.
Stacey said: “Natalie had arranged to spend Christmas Day with me.
“On Christmas Eve, we had been out shopping and I babysat Harry whilst Natalie got her nails done, ready for Christmas.
“She was a devoted mother, she had really turned her life around since having Harry, and she was so looking forward to her first proper Christmas with him.
“I will never get over losing them both. If any good can come from this, I hope that others will learn how important it is to speak out about mental health and depression.”
She added that she took some comfort from the knowledge that mother and baby had been buried together and from the “many happy times” they had shared.
Stacey and Natalie met in 2018, when the latter was recovering from addiction and domestic abuse.
Harry was born in October 2020 and his arrival was a turning point for his “devoted” mum, according to Stacey.
When they didn’t show up at her house on Christmas Day, Stacey was cautious about raising the alarm.
She explained: “I knew from experience that Natalie sometimes wanted quiet time, just her and Harry. It was part of her depression. I just thought it was best to leave her to do that.
“I didn’t want to call and put pressure on her, to come over for Christmas.
“I felt sure I’d hear from her in a day or two when she was ready. I kept her’s and Harry’s presents waiting for them.”
However, by December 29 she began to worry and arranged with another friend to visit Natalie’s flat the next day.
A routine welfare check discovered the bodies before the two pals arrived.
Devastated Stacey added: “I was heartbroken. The shock will live with me forever. I could never have dreamed that she was dead.
“The thought of Harry crying in the flat, and nobody coming to him, is so upsetting.
“It’s a lesson to us all to check on our friends and neighbours over Christmas, and all year round.
“I didn’t know that Natalie was struggling and if I had, I’d have taken her absence over Christmas more seriously.
“I think she kept it from me because she didn’t want to be judged, as a mother or a friend.”
Neighbours had not heard anything unusual other than a tap running constantly, an inquest heard.
The coroner said: “She’d done so well, she’d changed her life around.”
Stacey, meanwhile, said that she will visit her and Harry’s grave at Christmas and “try to remember all the happy times we shared”.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.