I always think I will never want to carry on living if either 
of 
my two sons died. I was so deeply saddened to learn of the death of Joanne Coombs, who was only 40.
She was reportedly found dead at Manningtree, Essex, last night.
Her beautiful 17-year-old daughter Natasha was found dead near the same spot on 10 August after being hit by a train on her way home from a night out with friends.
Natasha was a beloved only child, and her parents described their pain and anguish during the search for her body.
"It is so, so hard being without our Natasha. She is our only child. She is our family. She is our life. She is everything."
Those were the words of the bereaved father who has now lost his wife too.
Why is the world such a cruel place?
Update 20 September: A moving poem written by Joanne Coombs for Natasha following her daughter’s death, and husband Gary’s heartbroken tribute to his wife.
As an only child myself I can see why it would be so very devastating to her parents. It’s a terribly sad story.
I know that poor woman was burdened with despair and grief and pain from the horrific loss of her daughter. Still Mrs. Coombs had a good man, a husband, a stalwart, a mainstay in the dark time.
Mrs. Coombs left him. She left him. Did he count as valueless? As nothing?
Now Mr. Coombs is alone. Dreams blasted, family blasted. I pray there is someone to minister and care for him.
Ellie, you wrote: “I always think I will never want to carry on living if either of my two sons died.” You must not think in such a circumstance you would destroy yourself. You must not.
How sad to think her pain was so great that this was, to her mind, her only solution. My thoughts go to her husband.
How sad. As a matter of fact I went through Manningtree recently when I went on my Essex sojourn. It was only a few minute’s drive from where I used to live.
Sometimes one really wonders – it’s as if there is a curse on some people. Tragic – deeply sorry.
I don’t know, Ellee. Poor woman – one cannot imagine what she was going through. I, too, was an only child and my parents said they “wouldn’t want to live” if anything happned to me – and they meant it.
First of all, obviously, I am shocked and sickened at this absolutely tragic loss of two young lives–a Mother and Daughter no less. My heart just sank upon reading this. A friend of mine in Boston shared with me in her consulting work in Information Technology that she can’t quite place her finger on it. But during the past 5 years (I say 10 years myself)the world I live in here in the U.S. anyway, has become so depersonalized, it is shocking! One of my summer Blog topics was people who don’t even bother to answer the phone. The way I keep my center through this terrible social period is to always–whenever possible–do one kind thing a day for someone. I’m no “goodie two-shoes”, but it is sincere and allows me some semblance of balance. My thoughts and prayers are with these two young people who have been torn from life.
What a tragedy. The husband must really be suffering.
I suppose there is truly no answer to that question. I had read of the tragic death of Natasha earlier, so the matter of her mother compounds the misery. I have a dear friend who in the course of a year lost her fiance, both her parents, and her 18 year old son in a car crash. Yet, she carried on. Not sure that I could have.
Yes it is life. sad. So many people who are hurting.
I’ve seen photos of the mother and daughter on the news this evening and they looked like sisters. It is such a terrible tragedy, and I so feel for the family left behind who will grieve for the rest of their lives, especially for the husband and father, words cannot describe how he must be feeling.
I like Michael’s line about doing a good deed each day, I try to follow that motto too.
And Ian, it is remarkable how some people carry on after such devastating loss. She is lucky to have dear friends, they must be her lifeline right now.
How very, very sad.
The world is indifferent, not cruel.
Love, hate, wickedness, kindness, compassion …
all emanate from the sentient mind.
I hope that the father moves on and finds someone who loved him more than his wife did.
Oh Cruel World
so ‘rabbit or chicken’ for lunch.
Seriously though, it’s a tangled web we weave. Feelings and emotions so intense – physical pain I hate, emotional pain I can endure (water of a ducks back) – but I guess we all felt like we’d never be happy again after we lost our first love or our first puppy died.
But never had a son or daughter die, so I’m not really in a position to comment on the emotional entanglement – however I take any emotional blackmail from my mother with a pinch of salt. Let’s just say I know her only too well – lol!
Tragic… just tragic.. for that poor man to lose his wife… and his daughter. I can’t imagine the pain.