Skelmersdale mum, 22, dies from ‘shock’ asthma attack

After an asthma attack in bed led to the tragic death of a young mum, her family – who took turns trying to revive her – want to raise awareness of how deadly the condition can be.

Amy Greenwood, 22, who suffered with severe asthma all her life, was taken to Wigan Infirmary on the evening of Wednesday October 19 where she died two days later.

The Skelmersdale native had just moved into a new home in Wigan with fiance Keagan Boylan, and her two children Bailey, four, and Orla, eight months, and was looking forward to getting married in June 2023. Amy’s dad Paul Greenwood explained that his eldest daughter had feared going to the shops alone in case an asthma attack struck – and that this attack at home was “her worst nightmare” come true.

“It is just a shock,” Paul said. “On Wednesday she was a bit wheezy. I was at the game at the time and she rang me because Orla had just started crawling.

“She had a shower and when she was on Facetime to my wife she said she was feeling better and went to bed.”

Amy went on to suffer an asthma attack that proved fatal. Now the family wants to raise awareness just how bad this condition is and that the idea of “one puff of a blue inhaler and you are fine”, is false. Something the family found out first hand given Amy’s many attacks during her life.

“There was hope that she would survive after the asthma attack at home in bed,” Paul said. “We all performed CPR on her while we waited for the paramedics.

“They blue lighted them to Wigan. A sister later told us the family needed to come to see her – we still felt there was some hope.

“They [Wigan Infirmary] looked after her really well. We cannot fault them.

“Their care was second to none. With asthma, everyone thinks you take a puff on a blue inhaler and you are fine.

“It is much more than that. It is the research into it and so much more behind the scenes that we need to look into. Asthma is so debilitating.”

He went on to describe how even something as simple as taking her children to school was sometimes a difficult task for Amy. He admitted she always feared an attack coming on and had been excited by the news she would be coming off steroids – which she did not like due to the side effects.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Paul described her as a “lovely” and “caring” woman and an “adoring mother” who would look out for everyone. Asthma and Lung UK is an important charity for the family and they are keen to generate funds and support for.

Amy’s mum Joanne ran the London Marathon to raise money for the charity last year, and Amy’s brother James, 20, will follow suit next year.

The family want to see further research into more advanced treatment for people with severe asthma, like Amy, which is why they are keen to raise money and awareness following her death. A GoFundMe page was set up in honour of the family to help them with “anything they need” by family friend Julia Hale.

It has already generated £1,000 more than its original target of £7,000. The family have been overwhelmed by this community response and believe some of the money will go towards their chosen charity – but have not fully decided on what to do with it all yet.

Despite this shock, “Amy led a full life,” Paul said. He explained that asthma “was always a part of herbut it did not stop her living her life completely.”

• There is more advice and support on asthma from Asthma UK here.