Mum lost her three-year-old son to sudden unexplained death - but is consoled by kindness of strangers

A mum who lost her three-year-old son to an unexplained death has shared the moment her family's life was changed forever.

Emily, 34, and Darren Bowes, 39, from Lancaster, lived as any other family of four with another child on the way. Their boys, Alexander, three, and Freddie, two, made up their happy family bubble, spending many holidays and weekends in local parks running around with faces full of joy.

After a Christmas full of yet more joy and many happy memories, the family's life was altered forever the following day, when son Alexander died suddenly for reasons unknown. Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood is rare with about one death per 100,000 children, reports Lancashire Live.

READ MORE:Woman, 38, dies after being hit by G-Wagon car in Manchester

On December 26 last year, Emily and Darren were put through a day any parent dreads to even fathom. After talking her son Freddie out for a little walk, the mum of two came home to see blue lights flashing outside her home and was later given the devastating news of her son's death.

"Alexander was a joyous little boy. He loved cars, Peter Rabbit, spending time with family, being outside. He was just a really cheeky little chap that just lit everybody up," said Emily.

"He was a little bit unwell on Boxing Day. We had a lovely Christmas Day, he was dancing with his younger brother Freddie to the Masked Singer the night before and he had a whole day of opening his presents with Freddie.

"He was just a little bit tired and unwell with on and off tummy bug symptoms. We had a really lovely family Christmas which I'm really grateful for. I've got lovely memories of him dancing with Freddie randomly to the Masked Singer which we never watched before but it just