Young widow 'uplifted' by Bridget Jones film

Sarah Healy was 36 when her husband Danny died from oesophageal cancer

A woman whose husband died within weeks of his cancer diagnosis has praised the new Bridget Jones film for its handling of grief.

Sarah Healy, from Hellesdon near Norwich, said it felt "like a bomb went off" when her husband Danny died of oesophageal cancer six years ago.

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy focuses on how Renee Zellweger's character tries to cope with life after the death of her husband, Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth.

Ms Healy said she left the cinema "uplifted".

Ms Healy was 36 when her husband died and she said they had been "looking forward to the rest of our lives together".

"As far as we knew he was a fit and healthy 41-year-old," she said. "He suddenly felt quite poorly."

• If you have been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line.

Sarah said the couple had been looking forward to the rest of their lives together and Danny was a fit and healthy 41-year-old

However, with symptoms of what was believed to be gallstones, he was diagnosed with metastatic oesophageal cancer just three-and-a-half weeks before he died.

"He was admitted to hospital, we managed to get him home for four days and I'm very thankful he died at home with me and the dogs by his side," Ms Healy said.

During the film, Bridget Jones is given "advice" from friends and family on how they think she should cope with loss.

However, Ms Healy said her experience showed this was not always helpful at the time.

"I'm nearly six years out now and I think I can laugh at some of those things now and that's what the movie highlighted for me - hope.

"You can move forward."

Renee Zellweger returns for the fourth instalment of the Bridget Jones franchise where she learns to navigate life after loss

The film has also been praised by grief charity Widowed and Young, which supports people under the age of 50 who have lost a partner.

Colette Scarborough-Jelfs, head of operations, said it could be "incredibly difficult" to lose the person you hope to grow old with.

"Everyone finds themselves going through that type of loss surrounded by people who love them and want to fix them," she said.

"You are going to have to piece your life back together and find out who you are after bereavement.

"I think with the Bridget Jones film it really does touch on that.

"A lot of other films shy away from actually talking about the difficult parts of bereavement.

"It's led to more people talking about grief."