A heartbroken father has revealed he had to identify his partner’s body on the same day he had planned to propose.
JJ Warner, 40, and Sophie Runkee, 34, from Hull, had booked a “reminder” holiday to Turkey earlier this month following JJ’s cancer diagnosis.
The couple were looking forward to spending precious time with their three children, including Luca, 11 weeks, Alicia, 14, and Tommy, nine, before JJ’s treatment began.
JJ had even planned to propose to Sophie and had bought a ring at a jewellery store near their holiday apartment. But on the night he had planned to propose, he was instead faced with the devastating experience of formally identifying her body.
Their ‘once in a lifetime’ trip turned into a nightmare after Sophie’s lifeless body was found on the balcony of the hotel apartment where they were staying. The mother is believed to have fallen unconscious after a night of partying and choked on her vomit.
Heartbroken dad JJ Warner, 40 (right), has revealed he had to identify the body of his partner Sophie Runkee, 34 (left), on the same day he had planned to propose.
JJ said: “Sophie was the love of my life. She was a wonderful mother and was the life and soul of every room. We miss her so much.”
On July 11, Sophie and Alicia went out for some mother-daughter time and spent the night dancing together at local bars while JJ stayed back with the kids.
She said: ‘I didn’t usually drink but I was worried about my cancer diagnosis and went out and drank too much. It was a way of releasing stress.
“We discussed the matter and she went to the balcony to sleep. When we found her, she was unconscious.”
Tragically, it was Sophie’s teenage daughter, Alicia, who first stumbled upon her mother’s lifeless body on the balcony.
In a desperate attempt to save Sophie’s life, JJ ran over, cleared her airway and began CPR.
Miraculously he managed to bring her back, but any hope was short-lived as her pulse was weak and she had to be rushed to hospital.
Sadly, doctors were unable to do anything more to save Sophie’s life and she died just 24 hours later.
The couple had booked a “remembrance” holiday to Turkey earlier this month following JJ’s cancer diagnosis.
The couple were looking forward to spending precious time with their three children, including Luca, 11 weeks, Alicia, 14, and Tommy, nine, before JJ’s treatment began.
JJ was even planning to ask Sophie to marry him and had bought a ring at a jewelry store near his holiday apartment.
JJ added: “The Turkish doctors did everything they could, but she passed away in hospital two days later.”
JJ and Sophie met two years ago through an online dating site and instantly fell in love.
He said: “I’d never been open with anyone before, but I trusted Sophie. We’d both been through a lot of sadness in our past and that brought us together.”
“She was very cheerful and talkative, and had a heart of gold. She adored her two children.
“Once a month we’d go on a date, go to a spa or take the dogs for a walk. We loved being together.”
Sophie gave birth to the couple’s son, Luca, in April this year, and the couple settled down to live as a family with Sophie’s son and daughter from a previous relationship. But when Luca was just four weeks old, JJ found a lump on his bottom.
She said: ‘I’d had a lump removed in the past so I was immediately worried. I went for tests and they found more lumps in my groin and neck. I was told the first lump was melanoma – skin cancer – and it affected us a lot.
‘We booked a last minute trip to Turkey to cheer up the kids and spend some quality time before my treatment started.
Their ‘once in a lifetime’ trip turned into a nightmare after Sophie’s lifeless body was found on the balcony of her hotel apartment.
On July 11, Sophie and Alicia went out for some mother-daughter time and spent the night dancing together at local bars while JJ stayed home with the kids.
Sophie had no travel insurance and JJ is now faced with unexpected hospital bills as well as the cost of bringing Sophie’s body back to her home in Hull where she can be laid to rest.
Sadly, doctors were unable to do anything more to save Sophie’s life and she died just 24 hours later.
‘Our concern was how we would cope if something happened to me, not for a moment did we think Sophie would be the one to die.’
Sophie and JJ were due to marry in Scotland in just six weeks after bringing forward the wedding following his skin cancer diagnosis.
He said: ‘We were planning to get married in Scotland at the beginning of September but I wanted to surprise Sophie with a romantic proposal. She didn’t know where or when I would do it.
‘I found a jewellery store near our apartment and we picked out a ring. I was planning to propose to her later during the holidays and had told the kids. Sophie had no idea what day I would choose. I wanted it to be really special, to show her what she meant to me.
‘He tattooed my initials on his finger and I loved it.’
Eight days after the vacation, JJ received a call from his doctors informing him that they suspected he had cancer in a second lump.
She said: ‘Sophie took it really badly, she was stressed and very worried about me. She didn’t usually drink but she would go out and get very drunk. I looked after her and was upset when she came back. I took the baby out for a walk to soothe her.
‘She was sleeping on the balcony and I made sure she was covered with a towel and put sunscreen on her.’
Sophie and JJ were due to marry in Scotland in just six weeks after bringing forward the wedding following his skin cancer diagnosis.
Sophie never regained consciousness and on the second day, the hospital told JJ that nothing more could be done. They allowed her a second brief visit to say goodbye.
Sophie gave birth to the couple’s son, Luca, in April this year, and the couple have settled down to family life with Sophie’s son and daughter from a previous relationship.
Sophie got JJ’s initials tattooed on her ring finger, which he loved, and he got the same tattoo.
After Sophie passed away, JJ got a tattoo on his chest in her memory.
But when JJ returned, Sophie was unconscious and had vomited.
He said: ‘I started CPR on her, trying to save her until the paramedics arrived. She was rushed to hospital and placed in ICU in a coma. I was only allowed to have five minutes with her. I was devastated.
“I was taking care of the kids, trying to stay positive, but it was horrible.”
Sophie never regained consciousness and on the second day, the hospital told JJ that nothing more could be done. They allowed her a second brief visit to say goodbye.
He said: ‘The night I was due to propose, I went to formally identify Sophie’s body. It was like a nightmare. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her there alone.
‘Before we left, I got a tattoo in her memory, at the same studio she had used.
“Turkish doctors say Sophie choked on her own vomit. They performed an autopsy and I had her body brought home.
‘We should be planning our wedding, but instead I’m planning a funeral. It sounds like a nightmare.’
‘I still have to deal with my cancer treatment, alone, and take care of the kids. Little Luca is a daily reminder of his mom and I’m grateful for him. But my heart is broken. Sophie is my one true love, my soulmate, and she will live in my heart forever.’
Sophie had no travel insurance and JJ is now faced with unexpected hospital bills as well as the cost of bringing Sophie’s body back to her home in Hull where she can be laid to rest.
Sophie’s best friend Jenny Phillips has set up a GoFundMe page in an attempt to support JJ and the children.