A 'kind and bubbly' grandmother collapsed and died after she was allegedly assaulted during a confrontation with two other women on a bus.
Police have launched a manslaughter probe, arresting a 26-year-old woman after the death of former cake factory worker and carer Ally Evans, 60, in Hartlepool.
Ms Evans' death has "shattered" her two daughters, six grandchildren and her partner of 16 years, Shaun Mathieson, 69, who was waiting to meet her in the public library when she collapsed and died an hour and 15 minutes after seeking help in a bookmaker's at 9.30am on October 13th.
Ms Evans had boarded her usual number seven bus into town but told Mr Mathieson via text message that she had met a woman and her adult daughter, who were known to her, and an argument had broken out.
Police say that an assault then occurred on the bus whilst passengers tried to intervene.
Ally with her partner Shaun Mathieson, 69 (Image: Provided)
Ms Evans got off at the next available stop, crossed the road and sought help at the nearest premises, a branch of Coral bookmakers in Hartlepool.
Staff there gave her a drink of water but her condition suddenly deteriorated and an emergency call was made for an ambulance, but her life could not be saved.
The unsuspecting Mr Mathieson was waiting in the library when a man he knew ran to fetch him on Ms Evans' instructions, one of the last things she was able to do.
Mr Mathieson said: "It's still a struggle to take in that Ally has gone, she was such a kind-hearted, bubbly, decent person and she lived for her family and her friends.
Cleveland Police said Ally sadly died inside a premises on York Road, Hartlepool, at approximately 10.45am on Tuesday 13 October. (Image: DEBBIE CARTER)
"To lose her in this way has been a terrible thing for all of us to go through and we're waiting for more information on exactly what happened to her.
"We have been together for 16 years but we each have our own homes. We would see each other almost every day and one of the things we would do is go into town together to the shops, meeting at the library.
"I arrived there on Tuesday and I was the only person in there because she hadn't arrived so I rang to see where she was but got no answer.
"She then texted to say she was on the bus and there was someone on there who she'd got into an argument with, someone who was with her adult daughter.
"I tried ringing again and again I got no answer. The next thing a man I know came running into the library looking for me and told me that Ally was really ill in Coral's. She had told him "go and get Shaun, tell him that I have been attacked."
"I ran with him to Coral's and said I was Ally's partner but the police and ambulance service were already with her. I waited outside for four or five hours to see her."
Mr Mathieson learnt to his horror that Ally had died and watched as crime scene tape was put up outside the bookmakers.
The 26-year-old woman who was later arrested is understood to be the daughter of the woman Ally had the dispute with.
Mr Mathieson said: "We understand passengers tried to intervene to help Ally and we're grateful they tried to help.
"She was such a loving and good person. She cared very much about her family and told me she was pleased she had got all her Christmas shopping done for them already. She said she just had to put some cash in some gift envelopes and she was done.
"That was her all over, she thought about other people before herself. It's very hard to accept that she has gone, we're shattered by it."
Ms Evans had been receiving treatment for heart issues but a CT scan and MRI had cleared her, Mr Mathieson said, adding: "She was really relieved to be told she only needed to come back in six months for a check."
He said Ally's death had been felt throughout Hartlepool. "She was very popular and very well known, whenever we were walking through town she'd be stopping constantly to chat and say hello. She was a very well loved person."
Cleveland Police said Ally died inside a premises on York Road, Hartlepool, at approximately 10.45am on Tuesday 13 October.
A Home Office post-mortem examination has taken place, with additional specialist pathology examinations being undertaken to establish the cause of death.
The 26-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of manslaughter has been released on conditional bail while enquiries continue.
Detective Chief Inspector John Bonner, from Cleveland Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET) said: “From footage reviewed so far we believe a number of passengers tried to break up the assault."
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He added: “The investigation remains ongoing and a number of lines of enquiry are being pursued to establish the circumstances surrounding the woman's death.
“As part of those enquiries, I am still keen to hear from passengers who were travelling on the number seven bus or witnessed an altercation between two women. In particular anyone who attempted to intervene during the altercation.
“I would also encourage anyone with information, CCTV, mobile phone footage, or any other material which may assist the investigation to get in touch."