A 19-year-old from London Colney has been left to organise his mum's funeral after she suddenly died following a fall in her home last week.

Sam Jameson, of High Street, who has no other family he can turn to, said he has a strong group of friends around him to thank for the support he has received since his mum, Caryl Jameson, died.

On the evening of Monday, April 4, Sam and his friends were at home when he heard a loud noise. Panic set in for the 19-year-old as he walked towards the stairs and saw his mum lying on the floor.

He said: “She was going up to go to sleep - she must have fell backwards as she was going up the stairs and landed on the back of her head.

“I don't think it's fully sunk in yet what's happened, I've just got to keep my head high and move on.

“I started to panic at first but managed to call an ambulance, it all happened so fast."

Sam's friends have rallied together and organised a fundraiser at the Golden Lion pub, in High Street, London Colney, where Caryl worked part-time behind the bar, to raise money which will help the grieving teenager pay for his mum's funeral.

He added: “Helping to raise the money has been done by everyone else really – which I'm really grateful for. I didn't have a clue what was going on or what I was feeling.

“I'm really overwhelmed how the whole community has come together, I still can't believe it.”

Paying tribute to Caryl, Sam said: “She had a heart of gold and was the most loving person, not just to me but to everybody she knew.

“Whatever she had, she wouldn't hesitate to give to someone less fortunate than her, that's what kind of a woman she was.

“She'll always be remembered for being bubbly and smiling.

“She'd do anything to make another person's life easier if they were in difficulty. She's gone before she should have.”

Sam's friend Aaron Winterbourn, 21, described Caryl as being “just like his mum”. He added: “She would do anything for anyone, it felt like we were one family.”

On Sunday, April 17, the Golden Lion, which has already set up a donation tub for Caryl's funeral fund, will host a the fundraiser from 7pm.

The evening will include an auction, where items such as tickets to watch an Arsenal football match and a laptop will be up for sale.

There will be also be children's entertainment and the event will also be used as an opportunity to celebrate Caryl's life and her birthday, which is on April 23.

Family friend Savanna Dunk has helped with the event's organisation and knowing the devastating situation Sam was in, she stepped in to support him.

She said: “We've been around the whole village putting up posters about the fundraiser and we are pretty confident we'll have a good turn out on Sunday. It's been amazing how the whole community has united, not one person who I have approached for a donation has said no.

“We're appealing to as many people as possible to come on Sunday.”

To make a donation visit the Golden Lion, in High Street, London Colney.

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