IPSWICH: Tributes have been paid to a caring mother-of-four who died days after being found collapsed in the town centre.

Melissa Kirwan was found collapsed near Black Horse Lane, Ipswich, on Wednesday evening. She died in Ipswich Hospital over the weekend with her four daughters and two sisters by her side.

The 38-year-old was originally from County Dublin in Ireland, but moved to Ipswich two years ago.

Today, her daughter Katrina Delahoyde, 20, of Ipswich, described her mum as a “very bubbly person” who cared for everyone she met.

Ms Kirwan was in a coma and began fitting when she was admitted into hospital on Wednesday evening after being found by a member of the public.

Her fits became more frequent over the following days, with doctors informing her family that she was likely to have suffered brain damage.

Miss Delahoyde said: “She was an ex-drug addict but she had been clean from ages. She did drink but she was not dependent on drink by any means.

“She was made homeless a couple of months ago and she turned to drink.

“She was a very bubbly person and she cared about everyone even is she had only met them for a couple of minutes. It was just in her nature. She loved her family above all. She was a very caring person.”

Miss Delahoyde told The Evening Star that she first saw her mother in hospital on Thursday and watched as her fits got worse and worse.

Police have described the death as “unexplained” but do not believe it to be suspicious.

Officers have appealed for anyone who saw her between 7pm and 8.10pm on Wednesday to contact them on 101.

A spokesman said a post mortem would take place to establish the cause of death and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

n Would you like to pay tribute to Melissa Kirwan? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk