By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 3:11 PM on 27th December 2010
A mother and her baby have died during childbirth after being rushed to hospital with suspected swine flu.
Julie Ellison, 31, was taken to Royal Preston Hospital but began to deteriorate.
Doctors decided to induce baby Jessica, who was due to be born on Christmas Eve, but she died during the labour.
Hours later, Julie, from Longridge, also died unexpectedly, without getting the chance to see her baby girl.
Tragic: Julie Ellison, 31, died along with her baby during childbirth after she had been admitted to hospital with suspected swine flu
Today, devastated boyfriend Tom Howe, 36, spoke of his anguish after losing both the love of his life and his first child.
Choking back tears, Mr Howe - who also lost his father to cancer last month - said: 'It should have been the happiest day of my life.
'I don't know what to do, I am devastated.
'I can't put into words what this has done to me. I've lost everything. Why is life so cruel?'
Devastated: Boyfriend and father-to-be Tom Howe
Ms Ellison, who has another child, 12-year-old Richard, from a previous relationship, was admitted to hospital on Tuesday, December 14 with suspected swine flu and was quarantined.
But, three days later, her condition worsened and doctors induced labour, but both mother and baby died.
Tests have so far failed to determine a cause of the deaths, but Mr Howe said Julie had suffered from swine flu last year.
An inquest has been opened and adjourned at Preston Coroner's Court.
The couple, who had been together for around 15 months, met at BAE Systems at Samlesbury, where they both worked.
Ms Ellison worked in procurement and Mr Howe, who is originally from Sheffield, currently faces redundancy after the defence firm lost the contract for the Nimrod MRA4 programme, which he works on.
Her son Richard is now living with his father, also called Richard, at his home in Longridge.
On Christmas Day, the youngster unwrapped an Xbox 360 games console and other presents from his mother.
The 12-year-old boy said: 'I am going to miss my mum so much. She was the best mum in the whole world.'
His dad Richard spoke of his shock, describing her as his 'best friend'.
He said: 'Julie was a very special person, this has shocked everyone because it just wasn't expected at all.
'She was a wonderful person and a very dear friend to me.
'Even though we've been split up for two years she was still my best friend. Nobody could ever fall out with Julie, she was so special.
The Royal Preston Hospital: Tests have so far failed to determine a cause of the deaths of Julie Ellis and her baby
'I got a call from her on the Friday to say she had lost the baby. Then a few hours later I got a call to say she had died. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
'My heart goes out to Tom because I've still got a little piece of her every time I look at Richard.
'Tom has lost everything, his girlfriend and his baby. I can't begin to understand what he is going through.'
He said his son was 'bearing up well' with the tragic loss. He added: 'I am so proud of him. He is doing really well considering what he is going through.
'It is a credit to his mum how strong he is. She raised a great little boy.'
Mr Howe said he believes swine flu was not the cause of death.
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