A grieving mum from Bromley says her “life changed” after walking five steps from her son's room to hers where she found her husband dead at the bottom of the bed.
A GoFundMe has since been launched to go towards the funeral costs for Charlton Athletic fan Mark Hugill, hoping to provide “extra security” for wife Sophie Hugill and their autistic son, Harvey.
On Friday, February 9, Sophie, and her husband Mark attended Sophie’s nan’s funeral, and upon returning home around 11pm, Sophie went to sleep in her son Harvey's room.
The next day, at 9.30am, Sophie found Mark lying diagonally at the bottom of her bed, unresponsive.
"I held him, called an ambulance right away, and tried to perform the compressions they instructed, but I couldn’t get to him because he was wedged against the wall," Sophie said.
After seeking help from a neighbour, an ambulance arrived around 45 minutes later and Mark was pronounced dead.
His cause of death is yet to be confirmed.
Sophie told the News Shopper: “I really tried to bring him back, but I think he was gone when I first found him.
“I just don’t understand – he had type two diabetes, but he was on medication.
“My granddad died at the beginning of December, and then my nan passed away on New Year's Day.
“He helped support me through all of that and made sure he was there for both for their funerals.
“And the day after I buried my nan, I woke up and that happened.
“My life change from walking from my son's room to mine, all within five steps.”
Sophie says Mark did “everything he possibly could” to make her and Harvey happy.
Harvey suffers with ADHD, autism and speech and language delay, and is "the double” of Mark.
Sophie added: “I know why Mark worked so hard, I am so scared about mine and Harvey’s future, we had it all planned out.
“I just need to give my son some security, because we've literally got none at the minute.
“I know I've got really good people around me, but I need to be able to do this on my own.”
Sophie's current house in Bromley is rented privately, but she says she will have to give it up because the costs are "extortionate," so she may have to explore social housing options.
She explained: “I can’t stay private renting, we barely did it together, let alone on my own.
“Mark was such a hard worker, he didn’t smoke, drink, or touch any kind of drug – he just wanted to be a good dad and good husband.
“I am frightened of where they are going to put me – Harvey will turn 11-years-old in April, and he needs space.
“Last time we did this they put us in a studio flat and Penge, and then we moved to Chislehurst.
“Then they took us off the housing as they said we earned too much money. I am just so scared.”
A spokesperson for Bromley Council says it offers it’s “sincere condolences” to the family and will “offer support as appropriate” once an application is received.
The Bromley Council spokesperson explained: “This is a difficult situation, and we offer our sincere condolences to this family.
“Initial advice has been provided about how to seek housing assistance.
“If an application is received, we will make a full assessment of the circumstances and offer support as appropriate."
Family friend and local councillor for Dartford Green Party Laura Edie has launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to help the heartbroken family as they come to terms with their loss.
You can donate to the GoFundMe here
Money raised through the GoFundMe will contribute towards Mark’s funeral and will help Sophie “move forward” in a now different journey of raising her son.
So far, the page has raised more than £7,000.
Laura told the News Shopper: “It’s heart breaking, and Sophie has different circumstances to when she was in temporary accommodation before.
“This is why we wanted to set the fundraiser up, to give her an extra bit of security whilst she is trying to sort things out.
“Sophie’s house is full of lovely things of Mark – he was so spontaneous and romantic.”
Sophie says Mark was an avid Charlton Athletic fan and he would consistently surprise the family with gifts, including hand made blankets.
Sophie said: “He was just so thoughtful and a genuine, nice person, who just provided for his family.
“He had a heart of gold and acted like an old man, even his friends say they miss him moaning now.
“Harvey doesn’t understand where his dad has gone, but we’ve gone on the lines of ‘he’s up with the angels’, and Harvey has added his own spin on it and thinks he’s having a party up with the angels.
“It’s such a shame that God took him so young”.
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