Tributes paid to mother who pushed baby to safety before being killed by lorry

Lauren Heath was pushing her 11-month old daughter, Millie, in a pram when she was hit by a lorry

Lauren Heath, 20, and her 11-month-old daughter, Millie (Natasha Turner/ Go Fund Me)

Tributes have been paid to a young mother who pushed her baby to safety from the path of a heavy goods vehicle before being killed.

Lauren Heath was pushing her 11-month old daughter, Millie, in a pram along Basingstoke Road in Reading at 12pm on Wednesday, when she was hit by a lorry.

Officers and emergency services attended the incident, however the 20-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her daughter sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital by South Central Ambulance Service.

A statement released on behalf of her family, reported by the Reading Chronicle, said: “We would just like to say a big thank you to everyone. Our daughter was such an amazing girl and the best mummy to Millie.

“She was her world and we are proud that at the last time in her life she saved her baby girl.”

A fundraising page has been set up to raise money for Ms Heath’s funeral arrangements and create a trust fund for her daughter.

The page, set up by Natasha Turner from Edinburgh, who met Ms Heath through an online mothers’ group, raised £500 in less than an hour. So far more than £13,600 has been raised by over 1,200 people.

Writing on the page, Ms Turner said: “She was a doting mum to Millie and showed how much she loved her by sacrificing herself... for Millie's safety.

“Lauren managed to push her little girl out the way and save her life, taking her own. Millie is just days away from her first birthday, which Lauren had been so excited about and had already started planning things for her special day weeks ago.”

Ms Heath’s cousin, Emma Uphill, read a statement from the young mother’s fiancée, Kenny Hensley. Speaking on ITV News she said: “Lauren Heath was the most perfect mummy I could have asked for our little girl… She adored Millie so much and we wanted more children together and had made plans for the future.

“She saved our daughter’s life in a split second and for that I’ll be eternally grateful.”

Thames Valley police are appealing for witnesses following the crash. Senior Investigating officer Det Sgt Ashley Hannibal, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “We are investigating the fatal collision and appealing for any witnesses who saw the collision or who saw the heavy goods vehicle travelling prior to the collision.

“The family of the deceased are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers at this very difficult time.”