Police officer heartbroken as wife dies at Christmas

Joshua Wooldridge wants people to know what his wife did to help others - and how difficult it is to lose a loved one at Christmas

It was going to be a good 2025 for Bethany Wooldridge, her family say.

The 27-year-old had just moved into a new home in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, with her husband Joshua and their three children, aged four, seven and 10.

A former police officer, she was due to start a new role with West Midlands Ambulance Service in January.

But just days before Christmas she died suddenly, leaving relatives bereft and unsure what the future holds.

Mr Wooldridge, a serving West Midlands Police officer, said his wife had collapsed at their new home on 17 December.

The cause of her death is currently unknown and an inquest will be held following the results of a post-mortem examination.

The 32-year-old spoke to the BBC because he wanted people to remember the work his wife did to help others - and how difficult it was to lose a loved one over the festive period.

Bethany Wooldridge died suddenly at home on 17 December

"Everything she did, she did for everyone else," Mr Wooldridge said.

"The two jobs she most recently had were helping other people [with the] ambulance and police.

"She would always try to do something for somebody else. She was just selfless."

Mr Wooldridge had met his wife through friends and the pair had been married for 10 years.

His young family is currently staying with relatives in Dudley as his children "can't bear to go home".

The widower spoke of his devastation at his wife's sudden passing and having to navigate a "new normal".

He told how he "froze" upon hearing the unexpected news and was later violently sick.

"I lay on my mom's bathroom floor for about an hour," he said.

Mr Wooldridge said he "froze" when he was told his wife had died

Mr Wooldridge added that "family was everything" to his wife, describing her as "loyal and protective".

He joked that she had "dealt with all the paperwork", saying she was "like my receptionist".

"She was really good with that sort of stuff," he explained. "She just wouldn't take no for an answer.

"If it was in her children's or her family's best interest, she would push for things."

"Family was everything" to Ms Wooldridge, her husband said

A GoFundMe page has been launched by relatives to raise money for Ms Wooldridge's funeral.

Mr Wooldridge said she had once told loved ones she wanted a burial, white coffin and horses when she died.

He has since found out she was not covered under his police life insurance policy, with family funds also depleted due to moving house during the Christmas period.

More than £3,000 had been raised by 27 December, for which Mr Wooldridge said he was incredibly grateful.