• Tue. May 30th, 2023

Great-grandmother dies two weeks after being hit by Duchess Sophies motorcade

May 24, 2023

A great-grandmother who was hit by a motorbike in Duchess Sophie's motorcade escort two weeks ago has died, her family have confirmed.

Helen Holland, 81, from Birchanger in Essex, spent two weeks in hospital "fighting for her life" before succumbing to the injuries sustained on her brain.

Her family told the BBC that Helen fought "for her life for nearly two weeks… but irreversible damage to her brain finally ended the battle today".

Announcing her death, her son, Martin Holland, said his mother had died after "suffering multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries".

The motorbike collided with Helen – who was in London visiting her sister – at the junction of Cromwell Road and Warwick Road in Earl's Court, in west London, on May 10.

Eyewitnesses said she was "thrown 40 feet across the road" during the collision, which occurred at around 3.21pm that day.

After the collision, Buckingham Palace released a statement saying that Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh's "thoughts and prayers" were with the woman.

Following news of Helen's death, Chief superintendent Richard Smith, head of the Met Police's Royalty and Specialist Protection unit, said the "tragic outcome is being felt by colleagues across the Met" and that "thoughts are very much with the woman's family and loved ones at this sad time."

He continued: "Officers know that their actions, both on and off duty, are open to scrutiny and following our referral of the incident, the IOPC launched an independent investigation – we continue to co-operate with and support that enquiry."

Helen's grandson, Joe Strutter Holland, shared a smiling snap of Helen with her great-grandson to Facebook as he paid a heartfelt tribute to her on Facebook.

He wrote: "Rest in peace Nanny (Helen) Holland. One of the kindest and most joyful souls you'll ever of had the pleasure of meeting. Taken before her time. I'm grateful that you and Ozzy got to meet. I'll ensure he knows who you are, till we meet again x"

Helen, who was a mother-of-four, grandmother-of-10, and great-grandmother-of-seven, was described by family "beautiful, loving, kind and caring lady who would always put anyone before herself," in a statement released on 14 May, prior to her death.

They also said that she was "sprightly" despite her age of 81, in their statement given to Sky News.

At the time, they said: "Helen may be 81-years-old but she is sprightly for her age and nothing stopped her living life to the full, spending precious time with her family, muddy walks with the dogs and lunches with friends is what she enjoyed most."

OK! has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.

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