'She never gave in': Mum's touching tribute after heroic daughter dies aged 23

The mum of a Manchester University graduate has paid a touching tribute to her daughter following her death from brain cancer aged 23. Nicola Nuttall said her daughter Laura 'never gave in' adding 'she squeezed more in to her 23 years and five months than most people do in a lifetime'.

Laura was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme - an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer - after a routine eye test in 2018. After being told she only had 12 months to live, she went on to complete a 'bucket list' of goals including graduating to presenting the BBC weather forecast and raising thousands for brain cancer charities.

Paying tribute on Facebook Laura's mum Nicola wrote: "Please don't say she lost her battle, Laura was a taekwondo black-belt and she would hate that, she never gave in. She called this a 'plot twist' and she looked the disease in the eye with her infamous steely gaze.

READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community

"She squeezed more in to her 23 years and five months than most people do in a lifetime. A light that burns so brightly can only burn for half the time.

"I'm hoping that one day we'll meet again, that she'll be sat at the top of the ladder in the enchanted wood, excited to tell me about the land at the top of the magic faraway tree. It has been the honour and privilege of my life to be Laura's mum."

As part of her bucket list Laura also went fishing with Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer, met Johnny Marr and watched Fleabag being performed live on stage. In 2021, comedian Peter Kay came out of retirement to raise money for her treatment, and hosted two live Q&As in her honour.

Following her diagnosis, Laura had to drop out of university in London and was forced to