I became a widow and a single mother at 25

• Sophie Ransom, 26, from Suffolk, said she has to ‘carry on living for her baby’
• Read More: Mother-of-three who was widowed TWICE before the age of THIRTY 

A widow revealed she has to ‘carry on living for her baby’ after her husband was killed when she was 17 weeks pregnant.

Sophie Ransom, 26, from Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, felt a ‘wife’s intuition’ when she woke up without husband Paul, 25, next to her on the morning of May 24, 2023.

She was later informed by police he’d been in a collision on his Suzuki motorbike and died at the scene.

The mother-of-one said she lived on autopilot for the next month – but when she felt her baby kicking for the first time, she had a reason to carry on.

Now, she said she wakes up with the intention to ‘smile and laugh at least once a day’ – despite thinking she could never be happy again.

Sophie Ransom, 26, from Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, revealed she has to ‘carry on living for her baby’ after her husband Paul, 25, (pictured) was killed when she was 17 weeks pregnant

Sophie, a project manager, said: ‘Life as a young widow is hard – it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and so exhausting.

‘But there’s happiness in my life every single day – and a privilege I get to keep on living for my daughter.’

Sophie and Paul met in October 2016 – they were 19 years old, and had matched on Tinder. After exchanging a few messages, Paul asked Sophie out for a drink.

‘I said no at first,’ she said. ‘Because I wasn’t just going to meet someone off a dating app.’

But the pair bumped into each other by chance several nights later, when Sophie was out with her flatmate at a bar.

She said: ‘It was completely unplanned – we just met at a bar one night. It was lovely, he spent the whole night chatting to me and my friend – he came across as really kind.’

Paul and Sophie quickly began a relationship, and got engaged on October 6, 2021. Just over a month later, on November 13, they were married.

Sophie said: ‘Our relationship was near-perfect. Paul is just the funniest and kindest person I’ve ever met – he’d make people feel really comfortable.

Paul and Sophie quickly began a relationship, and got engaged on October 6, 2021. Just over a month later, on November 13, they were married

Sophie carried on for her baby daughter Poppy who gave her strength through the difficult time

Sophie and Paul met in October 2016 – they were 19 years old, and had matched on Tinder. After exchanging a few messages, Paul asked Sophie out for a drink

Now, she says she wakes up with the intention to ‘smile and laugh at least once a day’ – despite thinking she could never be happy again

‘He never had a bad word to say about anybody – and he’d do anything for you. In fact, the only thing about him that wasn’t perfect was how messy he could be!’

On the morning of May 24, 2023, Sophie woke up without Paul next to her. Initially thinking he was just at work, Sophie wasn’t worried.

She remembers ‘popping out to get some milk’ – and coming back to a missed call from his boss.

‘I rang back, and the first thing he asked me was, ”is Paul okay?” I said, ”well, you tell me – because he’s not here.”

‘My stomach just dropped and I instantly had an intuition that something had happened.’

Panicking, Sophie began looking back through her Ring doorbell, desperately trying to find footage of Paul leaving for work.

Unable to find anything, she rang Suffolk Constabulary – and asked them if there had been any recently reported accidents in the area.

Sophiefelt wife’s intuition’ when she woke up without husband Paul, 25, next to her on the morning of May 24, 2023

On the morning of May 24, 2023, Sophie woke up without Paul next to her. Initially thinking he was just at work, Sophie wasn’t worried

Sophie gave birth to baby Poppy on October 28, 2023, via C-section. She weighed 6lbs 6oz, and the pair were joined by Sophie’s mother, 52-year-old funeral celebrant Marie

Sophie said: ‘I need to make life as good as it can be for me and Poppy. In those early weeks after Paul died, I didn’t want to be around anybody’

Over 250 people attended the funeral, which took place on July 1, 2023 – at a ‘beautiful crematorium surrounded by wildlife’

‘The lady on the phone was really calm,’ she added. ‘She asked me to describe Paul – and said someone would contact me really soon.

‘About 30 minutes later, police knocked on the door. They told me, ”Paul’s been in an accident, and he hasn’t survived his injuries.”

‘I was in disbelief. I knew something would’ve happened, but I didn’t think he’d be dead.

‘I was thinking, worst case scenario, I’d have to look after him and the baby – but he didn’t even make it to hospital.’

Sophie said the first few weeks after hearing the news were a ‘blur’ – she had to organise the couple’s mortgage and bills, as well as Paul’s funeral.

Over 250 people attended the funeral, which took place on July 1, 2023 – at a ‘beautiful crematorium surrounded by wildlife.’

Sophie said: ‘I didn’t want it to be called a funeral – it was a celebration of his life. It was sad, but I didn’t want everyone’s lasting memory to be really sad.

‘He was such a positive, upbeat person – so I told everyone to wear coloured clothing.

‘The celebrant told loads of funny stories about him – and the final song was our first dance song, Can’t Take My Eyes off You. It was a beautiful service – I even somehow managed to read a poem.’

It was around this time Sophie started to feel her baby kick – which gave her an extra boost to start living life to the full again.

‘I started to feel the baby move,’ she added. ‘That’s when I thought, I’ve got to get on, I’ve got her to look after now, as well as myself.’

Sophie gave birth to baby Poppy on October 28, 2023, via C-section. She weighed 6lbs 6oz, and the pair were joined by Sophie’s mother, 52-year-old funeral celebrant Marie.

Sophie said: ‘I need to make life as good as it can be for me and Poppy. In those early weeks after Paul died, I didn’t want to be around anybody.

‘I was shaking all the time, I couldn’t eat. I didn’t want to see anyone. But now, I’m happy – and I miss him so much. I wish he was here, every single day. But I make a conscious decision to get up – I have to try and keep going.’

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