Last updated at 13:15, Friday, 26 October 2012

Yet Ying Ho

The mother of a Cockermouth takeaway shop owner died on Sunday after being pulled out of the River Cocker.

Yet Ying Ho, 74, was the mother of Will Cheung who owns Little Basil on Market Place.

She was pulled from the river by the emergency services near the footbridge at High Sand Lane.

A passer-by on Cocker Bridge had spotted her in the water.

She was treated at the scene before being taken to the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, where she died later.

Mrs Ho moved to Cockermouth in 2006 to live with Mr Cheung, 50, after the death of her husband.

She had suffered from chronic kidney disease and had been on dialysis since August, but Mr Cheung said her condition had been improving.

Describing the moment he saw his mother for the last time, Mr Cheung said: “It was just another typical Sunday morning and I urged her to go for a little walk as it got her out of the house.

“I was just preparing a shopping list when she told me she was going out for her walk – and that was the last time I ever saw her.

“There was nothing unusual about it at all.”

On his way to Aldi, Mr Cheung saw fire engines heading into the town but had no idea that they were responding to a call about his mother.

They were still there when he returned home.

He said: “I didn’t think it was anything suspicious.

“There was a police officer at my front door who said they had found a body in the river.

“I checked upstairs just to see if she had come back but she wasn’t there.

“It was a horrible feeling and just 100 per cent shock.”

Mrs Ho, who spoke little English, had undergone several operations since being diagnosed with kidney disease in 2007 but her son, who kept his business closed this week as a mark of respect, said she was in peak physical condition since starting dialysis.

He added: “She had a very quiet character and kept herself to herself.

“However, she was tough and strong when she was required to be, even though at times she looked weak.

“She was well liked by all the family and if we were having lunch she would make sure everybody had some before serving herself because that is the kind of woman she was.”

Mr Cheung said he was keeping an open mind about the circumstances of the tragedy.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned until February 14.

Anyone who saw Mrs Ho on Sunday is asked to call PC Judith Mennim on 101.

She had grey hair, was about 5ft 5in and was wearing black leggings, a blue fleece, a black woollen cardigan and black shoes.

First published at 13:09, Friday, 26 October 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk