A 5-year-old boy found his mother unresponsive after the coronavirus lockdown made her phobia of going outside worse.
32-year-old Katie Simms was found dead by her son, Archie, in their home in Northamptonshire on September 28.
Northamptonshire Police confirmed that the mother’s death is not being treated as suspicious.
Simms’ grieving brother, David Simms, said the mother-of-one had been ‘struggling’ for years but he believes the coronavirus lockdown ‘broke her.’
He said that the mother had been affected by their older brother’s death, who committed suicide in 2015.
Their older brother, 40-year-old Barry Gunn, suffered from PTSD after serving with The Royal Anglian Regiment in Sierra Leone.
Before Barry’s death, Simms loved to go out and socialize. But after her brother took his own life, she developed a phobia of going outside.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Katie’s funeral expenses and her 5-year-old son Archie.
In an interview with Northants Live, David said: “I think Covid broke her to be honest.
“She couldn’t get to visit my mom, because she’s got breathing difficulties so couldn’t leave the house to visit.”
He added: “My dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer, he’s now got a tumour so can’t travel, so lockdown has basically broke us all.”
David Simms from Leicestershire broke down in tears upon hearing the devastating news.
“We couldn’t help her as best we could, it feels like we’ve failed,” he expressed.
One person commented: “So desperately sad. RIP poor lady. Lockdown is not a rational response to this, it’s done more harm than the virus.”
Another wrote: “My deepest condolences at this very sad time.”
A third added: “Rip Katie & deepest condolences to your family.”
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