A heartbroken mother has paid tribute to her 'beautiful and talented' teenage daughter who collapsed and died by the poolside on a family holiday in Spain.
Speaking to the Mirror just days after Nathalie Cocks' body was returned home to the UK, her mother Jakki Cocks described her 17-year-old daughter as 'popular, hard working and always on the go.'
"There weren't enough hours in the day for her," explained Mrs Cocks.
"She lived life to the full, just a like a 17-year-old should."
Speaking from the family home in Oakdene Road, Redhill, the devastated mother explained how a family holiday to Majorca turned to tragedy.
"I was at the other end of the swimming pool when Nathalie collapsed.
"Two nurses from the hotel rushed to her and performed CPR until the ambulance arrived she never regained consciousness."
Nathalie was taken to a nearby hospital where she spent two days before being pronounced dead on Saturday, July 17.
Although the cause of Nathalie's collapse is still be investigated, doctors believe it could have been a heart defect, which had remained undetected.
"None of us have known what's hit us," explained Mrs Cocks.
"We're all just devastated, it seems unreal. It doesn't seem possible that it could have happened."
Trying to come to terms with what has happened has been the hardest thing for the family to deal with, but Mrs Cocks said she was trying to focus on the positives.
"There's never a good time to go at that age, but at least she was having the time of her life on holiday with all her family around her.
"And she didn't feel any pain she wouldn't have known anything about it.
"You just have to take what positives you can out of something like this.
"She wouldn't have wanted us to stop enjoying ourselves and be said."
Mrs Cocks also paid tribute to the Spanish hospital staff. "They were amazing – so kind and compassionate."
"I'm sure they did absolutely everything they could for her."
She added: "We have had so much support from family and friends. She was loved by everyone. She was just so popular, everyone loved her and they have all said if they were feeling down she was always so good at cheering people up."
"I know I am biased, but she was just lovely and beautiful and talented.
"I was so proud of her, she worked so hard and always tried her best at everything she did."
Nathalie was due to start her second year at Reigate College this September taking A Levels in English, maths, graphics and a B-Tech in Performing Arts.
The former Warwick School pupil also worked part-time in Argos, Redhill and Oakwood Sports Centre in Horley, as well as being a member of the Harlequin Theatre drama group and also babysitting in her spare time.
Her mother said she loved singing and music but had aspirations of becoming a graphic designer.
"She was always on the go, either at college, at work or out with friends – she had a huge social circle.
"It's been nice for me to be among her friends because it feels like she's till here."
Mrs Cocks, 48, who works at a bookshop in Redhill, said Nathalie also had a close relationship with her 20-year-old brother Stuart and father Clive, who lives in Old Coulsdon.
A funeral will take place at the Surrey and Sussex Crematorium, Crawley, on Thursday August 12, at 3pm.
Mrs Cocks said: "I don't really want black and I feel this is more fitting for a 18-year-old. She wouldn't have wanted a sombre affair – she would have wanted a big part."
Donations, if desired, can be made to the Tadowrth-based charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).
'Natalie was my best friend'
A best friend of Nathalie Cocks has paid tribute to her pal who she has known since the age of ten.
Gemma Lavender, 17, said: "We were in the same tutor group at school.
"Simply, Nathalie was my best friend, but looking back I guess she was more like my sister; always there for me and wanting to listen.
"I will miss her bright smile and laugh. It was impossible to be sad around Nathalie.
"She always said the right thing or pulled the right face to cheer you up.
"I will miss her being at the end of the phone, her relentless energy,. Her love for gory horror films, her constantly being at my side wherever I went.
"Nathalie made an impression on everyone who knew her, but to us , her close friends, she is a part of u that has gone and never to be replaced.
A close friend said: "Everyone look at (the stars – the brightest one's Nathalie."
"This is how I see her name, an angel that will be with me for ever. We love her always and miss her desperately.
